Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja is proving that access to clean cooking energy can do far more than replace traditional fuels as it can improve public health, protect the environment and transform lives. Through a partnership between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and IHS Nigeria, the initiative has provided 10,000 households with LPG cylinders while generating scientific evidence that cleaner cooking significantly improves indoor air quality and reduces exposure to harmful pollutants, particularly among women and children. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports For thousands of families across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), cooking no longer has to come with clouds of smoke, burning eyes and the hidden danger of respiratory disease. Through Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja (PBCAA), the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), with the support of IHS Nigeria, is demonstrating that access to clean cooking energy can significantly improve household health while contributing to environmental sustainability. The initiative, which culminated in the distribution of 10,000 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and refill vouchers to households across 18 communities in the six Area Councils of the FCT, has gone beyond simply replacing traditional cooking fuels. Evidence from its monitoring and evaluation exercise now shows measurable improvements in indoor air quality, providing local proof that cleaner cooking methods can reduce harmful pollution and improve public health. A Response to a Silent Public Health Threat Indoor air pollution remains one of the least recognised public health challenges in many Nigerian homes, where firewood, charcoal and kerosene continue to be the primary cooking fuels. While these energy sources are affordable and readily available, prolonged exposure to the smoke they generate has been linked to respiratory infections, asthma, chronic lung diseases and even certain cancers. The project was conceived to tackle this growing concern by encouraging households to transition from biomass fuels to LPG, a cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative. Speaking at the grand finale held at Bwari Mini Stadium on July 2, 2026, the Honourable Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud, represented by Hajiya Maijida Adamu Kuku, said the initiative was designed to reduce respiratory diseases associated with indoor air pollution. She noted that women and children bear the greatest burden of exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods and explained that wider adoption of LPG would not only improve public health but also protect the environment and contribute to climate change mitigation. From Distribution to Lasting Behavioural Change Unlike many intervention programmes that end with the distribution of equipment, Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja placed equal emphasis on education, community engagement and long-term sustainability. According to the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the project, launched in November 2025 with sponsorship from IHS Nigeria, reached 10,000 households spread across 18 communities in the six Area Councils. She explained that the intervention was prompted by increasing cases of respiratory tract infections among women and respiratory allergies in children linked to prolonged exposure to smoke from firewood, charcoal and kerosene. To ensure safe adoption of LPG, sustainability teams from the FCTA and IHS Nigeria carried out advocacy visits to traditional rulers and community leaders while also conducting awareness campaigns on the safe use of cooking gas. The programme also incorporated monitoring and evaluation exercises to determine whether the transition to LPG was making a measurable difference in household health and air quality. Scientific Evidence Behind the Success One of the defining features of the initiative was its reliance on scientific evidence rather than assumptions. Using handheld air quality monitoring sensors, officials assessed 30 households in Kurudu and Pyakasa communities within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The devices measured concentrations of fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5 and PM10, before and after beneficiaries switched from biomass fuels to LPG. The baseline findings painted a worrying picture. Homes that relied on firewood and charcoal recorded PM2.5 levels that exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended limits, exposing women and children to dangerous pollutants known to increase the risk of respiratory illnesses. However, follow-up assessments after households adopted LPG recorded significant improvements in indoor air quality. The findings confirmed that clean cooking
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