FCT expands cooking gas initiative, helps 10,000 families

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that its Abuja Breathe Clean Air Initiative, in partnership with IHS Nigeria, has reached around 10,000 households in all six Area Councils. This program replaces firewood and charcoal with cleaner cooking gas. The goal is to improve maternal and child health, cut indoor air pollution, and lower energy costs at home.

This announcement was made on Thursday during the last phase of the program in Bwari Area Council. Beneficiaries received gas cylinders, burners, and refill vouchers through the partnership between the FCTA and IHS Nigeria.

Officials at the event said this initiative started under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. It aims to encourage families to use cleaner cooking energy. It also tackles the health and environmental dangers linked to using firewood and charcoal.

Women and children face the biggest health risks

At the event, the FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, pointed out that indoor air pollution is a big public health issue. This problem affects women and children the most, as they spend more time in the kitchen.

Mariya Mahmoud, represented by her Special Adviser, Majeed Adamu, said that indoor air pollution is a serious issue in many areas. Women and children are often exposed to smoke from cooking with firewood and charcoal.

"By promoting the use of clean cooking gas, this initiative will significantly reduce exposure to harmful smoke, improve public health and protect the environment," she said.

The Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Adedolapo Fasawe, said this initiative started two years ago. The FCTA found that many residents, even those in Abuja, still cooked with firewood despite the health risks.

Fasawe explained that being around firewood smoke can cause respiratory problems, allergies, and burns, especially in women and children. She said the government wanted to give households a real alternative instead of just asking them to stop using traditional fuels.

"This administration believes in taking action. We will not tell you to stop cooking with firewood when we have not provided an alternative. Hence, the Breathe Clean Air project started," she said.

Fasawe also mentioned that changing from firewood to cleaner fuels helps not just individual homes but also improves public health and the environment.

Lower cooking costs

Besides the health benefits, the FCTA said the program is also helping to lower cooking costs for families and improving productivity for small food vendors.

Fasawe noted that beneficiaries reported cooking faster after switching to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This lets some vendors prepare much larger amounts of food in the same time.

She explained that a gas refill costs about N4,000 and can last a family of six for more than a month. Before this, many families spent between N1,200 and N1,500 daily on firewood.

To support continued use, beneficiaries received gas cylinders, burners, and two refill vouchers. Fasawe is hopeful that this initiative could lead to a policy to promote cleaner cooking energy across the FCT.

IHS Nigeria donates cylinders and health insurance

Mohamad Darwish, the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, also spoke. He said IHS Nigeria provided 10,000 LPG cylinders as part of their partnership with the FCTA.

Darwish, represented by Dapo Otunla, Chief Corporate Services Officer, added that more than 2,000 beneficiaries have been enrolled in the program’s “Clinic Without Walls” health insurance scheme for one year.

He mentioned that the first 2,000 beneficiaries will get free healthcare through partner providers. "The whole idea is to move people away from cooking with firewood and charcoal. It is cleaner, fresher, and better for their health," he said.

Darwish assured that IHS Nigeria would keep an eye on the initiative to check its long-term success and ensure beneficiaries continue using cleaner cooking energy. The event had government officials, traditional rulers, and many residents from Bwari Area Council, with several women also receiving baby care packs along with their cooking gas cylinders.

Indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is a major public health issue in Nigeria. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that smoke from dirty cooking fuels can lead to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and even premature deaths. Women and young children are at the highest risk due to their long exposure while cooking.

The Abuja Breathe Clean Air Initiative was launched by the FCTA in 2025, alongside the Mother-Baby Kit Project. These efforts aim to improve maternal and child health and cut down on household air pollution.

As reported earlier, the initiative encourages families to switch from firewood, charcoal, and other harmful cooking fuels to LPG. This change aims to reduce respiratory illnesses, environmental pollution, and health risks from indoor smoke exposure. The program also supports Nigeria’s push for cleaner energy and lower emissions from cooking.