By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

IHS Nigeria has donated 10,000 cooking gas cylinders to vulnerable households in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of efforts to reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal and promote cleaner cooking practices.

The intervention, implemented under the Project Breathe – Clean Air Abuja initiative in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has enabled more than 12,500 households to transition to cleaner cooking energy, reducing exposure to harmful indoor air pollution.

Speaking at the grand finale of the initiative in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla, said the project was designed to improve public health and environmental sustainability by encouraging the adoption of safer and cleaner cooking methods.

Otunla said that, in addition to donating the gas cylinders, the company facilitated the enrolment of more than 2,000 vulnerable residents into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme as part of its commitment to sustainable community development.

“Our focus is to create awareness that cooking gas is a cleaner, safer and more cost-effective alternative to firewood and charcoal. Through this project, IHS Nigeria donated 10,000 gas cylinders to beneficiaries across the FCT and supported the enrolment of over 2,000 residents into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to initiatives that improve healthcare, protect the environment and enhance the quality of life of Nigerians.

The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, commended IHS Nigeria for partnering with the FCTA on the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to the campaign against indoor air pollution.

Represented by her Special Adviser, Majidda Adamu Kuku, the minister said smoke from firewood and charcoal poses serious health risks, particularly to women and children who spend long hours cooking.

She noted that promoting cleaner cooking energy would help reduce respiratory illnesses, improve public health and protect the environment.

Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, said the Abuja Breathe Clean Air Initiative was launched two years ago under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to tackle the widespread use of firewood and charcoal across the territory.

She explained that community engagement and awareness campaigns revealed that many households continued to rely on firewood despite having access to cleaner alternatives, largely because they were unaware of the associated health risks.

According to Fasawe, the partnership with IHS Nigeria has enabled the FCTA to distribute free gas cylinders and gas vouchers across the six area councils, helping more than 12,500 households adopt cleaner cooking practices.

She described the collaboration as a successful example of how government and the private sector can work together to address public health and environmental challenges while improving the living conditions of vulnerable communities.