FCTA Launches ‘Breathe Clean Air In Abuja’ Initiative To Tackle Household Pollution

Breathing Hope into Abuja’s Future

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled a bold and timely initiative titled “Breathe Clean Air in Abuja”, a campaign designed to confront one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health and environmental challenges: household air pollution.

Launched at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the program drew government officials, development partners, environmental experts, and schoolchildren, signaling a collective commitment to healthier living and sustainable energy practices.

At the heart of the campaign lies a sobering reality. Millions of Nigerians continue to rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking, exposing familiesespe, cially women and children, to harmful smoke that has been directly linked to respiratory diseases and cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, household air pollution causes 3.2 million deaths globally each year, with Nigeria’s reliance on traditional fuels contributing significantly to this toll.

The initiative seeks to reverse this trajectory by promoting clean cooking solutions, beginning with the distribution of 5,000 LPG cylinders donated by IHS Towers.

Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, Health and Environment Mandate Secretary, emphasized that clean air is not a privilege but a right. She underscored that the campaign is not merely about distributing cylinders but about sparking a nationwide transition toward safer, healthier homes. Her words carried urgency, reminding Nigerians that these deaths are preventable and that the country’s Ebola response proved the power of early action and strong public communication.

The campaign also highlighted the economic and social dimensions of clean energy. By reducing reliance on firewood, families can avoid the hidden costs of illness and medical treatment, which can reach up to ₦7 million monthly for lung cancer care.

Dr. Ramatu Usman, a cancer prevention specialist, warned of the rising incidence of lung cancer among women who have never smoked, attributing it to prolonged exposure to kitchen smoke. Prevention, she argued, is far cheaper and more humane than treatment.

Legislative support has further strengthened the initiative, with Hon. Dr. M. A. Oriyan announcing that the program will be captured in the 2026 national budget. This ensures that the campaign is not a fleeting gesture but a sustained policy priority.

The event also carried symbolic weight, with a schoolgirl named Isabella delivering a poem titled “Abuja, Our Hope Will Breathe Again”, which earned a standing ovation and underscored the generational stakes of the project.

Beyond health, the initiative aligns with broader environmental and developmental goals. It supports carbon emission reduction, improved sanitation, recycling, and women’s economic empowerment.

Dr. Fasawe’s call for regional cooperation, “Environment has no boundaries. If Abuja succeeds but Nasarawa fails, we have not won”, reminds us that environmental progress must transcend geographic lines.

The Breathe Clean Air in Abuja campaign is more than a public health intervention; it is a vision for a cleaner, safer, and more equitable Nigeria.

With government commitment, private sector support, and community involvement, Abuja is poised to become a national model for clean energy transition. If sustained, this initiative could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against preventable diseases and environmental degradation, ensuring that future generations inherit not just a capital city, but a capital of hope.