FCTA Launches Clean Air Initiative: 5,000 Households to Receive Free Gas Cylinders
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled an ambitious environmental health program that will provide 5,000 households with complimentary gas cylinders and six months of free cooking gas refills as part of its ‘Breathe Clean Air Initiative’.
The program, officially launched on Saturday through the Safe Environment Renewable Project, aims to combat air pollution and improve public health in the nation’s capital.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of FCTA’s Health and Environment Secretariat, emphasized that the initiative extends beyond mere palliative distribution. The program aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on environmental awareness and supporting household health management. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has demonstrated strong support for the project, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
“Health is wealth, and health and environment are equal,” Dr. Fasawe stated, highlighting the initiative’s role in fostering a collaborative approach to national development.
Dr. Babagena Adams, Permanent Secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, highlighted the program’s particular benefits for pregnant women, noting its potential to boost community health and economic productivity.
IHS Nigeria Limited CEO Mohammed Darwish, a key partner in the initiative, explained that the program specifically targets the reduction of toxic gas exposure from traditional cooking methods like firewood and charcoal, which are known to cause lung cancer and other respiratory ailments. The six-month voucher system accompanying the cylinder distribution is designed to encourage sustained use of clean cooking alternatives.
Healthcare experts, including Dr. Ayuba Hannatu Usman, a consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at National Hospital Abuja, praised the initiative’s preventive health approach. Daniela Omotola, working with Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, commended the program’s potential to reduce pollution-related illnesses.
Environmental experts present at the launch predicted positive ecological impacts, including reduced deforestation, soil erosion, and local temperature regulation as households switch to cleaner cooking methods.
The initiative represents a crucial component of FCTA’s comprehensive strategy to enhance environmental health and living conditions in the Federal Capital Territory, directly supporting President Tinubu’s national development agenda while promoting sustainable practices among residents.
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