As the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) commences full implementation of its ‘Breathe Clean Air Initiative’, over 5,000 households are set to benefit from it and also enjoy free gas cylinders with free refill of their cooking gas for six months.

This was made known on Saturday when the Safe Environment Renewable Project- Breath clean Air Abuja, was officially launched.

The Mandate secretary, FCTA, Health and Environment Secretariat (FCT-HES), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said the focus of the program is not about sharing palliatives, but to address ignorance about the people’s environment and help women manage the home and health of their household better.

She noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu has touched every area of human life with the aim of improving standards of living for all classes of people.

Fasawe stated that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has keyed into the visions of President Tinubu and has shown enough commitment towards making the FCT a better place for all.

She said; “the truth is, health is wealth. Health and environment are equal. So the focus of this program is not only to give out palliatives, as we’ve done in the past.

“ The focus of this program is to address the Renewed Hope Agenda Initiatives. It’s to tell Nigerians that if only we can put our hands together, and not wait for governments alone, we can have a happy, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria. Because truly, with peace and prosperity Nigeria will be great again”.

Also the Permanent Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCTA, Babagena Adams, said the initiative was important, as it would help to end the stress that pregnant women pass through.

He said; “We’re also saving the pregnant women, along with the family. So if they live healthy, they’ll be more productive, and the GDP of FCT will increase. So a healthy community is a wealthy community, so that’s the benefit”.

Earlier in his speech, a partner of the initiative and the Chief Executive Officer, IHS Nigeria Limited, Mohammed Darwish, said the initiative was designed to help stop mothers and the children from inhaling toxic gases that are injurious to their health.

He said some of the hazards that followed long use of fire wood, charcoals for cooking are lung cancer diseases among other lung related ailments.

According to him; “ the six month voucher distributed in addition to the cylinder would encourage the beneficiaries to sustain the usage of the gas cylinders.

“This program, in a nutshell and simple English, is about helping 5,000 mothers, sisters, and daughters by not inhaling toxic gases anymore, and by really making sure that their health is better by breathing fresh air. That’s in a nutshell”.

The executive vice President of HIS, Ayotade Oyinlola, who spoke on the impact of the initiative, said the distribution will significantly reduce family income spent on medical bills.

A consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist specialist, National Hospital Abuja, and Secretary Nigerian Cancer Society, FCT Chapter, Dr. Ayuba Usman, said the initiative is centred on health prevention, while considering lifestyle improvement.

Adding her voice, Daniela Omotola, who is one those spearheading the campaign, using Rotaract Clubs in Abuja, praised the project as a timely, life-changing intervention that will help reduce pollution-related illnesses and support a healthier FCT.

Stakeholders at the launch noted that as more households transition to cooking gas, the pressure on surrounding ecosystems including tree loss, soil degradation and rising temperatures is expected to decline over time.

The FCTA said the project is part of its broader strategy to promote environmental health, reduce pollution and create safer living conditions for residents of FCT in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has announced that he will officially defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing renovation of Jolly Nyame Stadium—the designated venue for the defection ceremony—Governor Kefas said his decision is driven by the interests and future of Taraba residents rather than personal gain.

“On the 19th of November, I will officially transition from PDP to APC.

“This movement is about the destiny of the people of Taraba, and we are expecting many visitors for the ceremony,” he said.

When asked if the APC had set any conditions for his defection, the governor said he would address the circumstances in his speech at the event, allowing residents to judge for themselves.

State Executive Council members, represented by Commissioner for Science and Technology, Muslim Aruwa, expressed full support for the governor.

“The Governor is our leader. Wherever he goes, we move with him.

“This alignment with the Federal Government is for the good of all citizens, not personal gain.

“It is about bringing development to the state,” Aruwa said.

He added, “This movement is not just for the governor, but for the entire people of Taraba State, and we are with him 100 percent.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that a nationwide strike is imminent, accusing the federal government of frustrating efforts to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement.

Coordinator of the union’s Ibadan Zone, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, issued the warning on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

He alleged that government officials were misleading the public and slowing down negotiations despite an ongoing one-month deadline.

According to him, ASUU’s core demand is the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement to produce a new salary structure to replace the current Consolidated University Salary Scale (CONUASS), which he said has been eroded by years of inflation.

The Ibadan Zone comprises the University of Ibadan; University of Ilorin; LAUTECH, Ogbomoso; Osun State University; Kwara State University, Malete; and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo.

Flanked by other union leaders, Olaniran said the government’s handling of the dispute lacked seriousness, noting that “eight days to the expiration of the one-month window, nothing significant has been achieved beyond misinformation and propaganda.”

He acknowledged the release of part of outstanding promotion arrears and third-party deductions but insisted these did not address the substantive issues.

Olaniran said the recent NEC meeting held in Jalingo reviewed the situation and expressed concern over the impact of insecurity and hardship on university lecturers.

He warned that unless the government immediately presents a competitive salary offer, public university students may face another round of academic disruption.

He disclosed that ASUU had rejected the government’s counter-offers, describing them as “ridiculous” for lecturers who have earned the same salaries for 16 years.

He added that Nigerian academics now earn less than counterparts in several West African countries, while political office holders remain among the highest paid on the continent.

The union also decried the continued withholding of three and half months’ salaries of federal university lecturers from the 2022 strike, adding that many state universities have yet to pay withheld salaries, promotion arrears and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

Olaniran cited Osun State University and LAUTECH among institutions still owing various arrears, describing the situation as “anti-labour and inhumane.”

ASUU, he said, demands the unconditional payment of all withheld salaries, arrears and outstanding allowances as part of measures to avert a looming national shutdown of public universities.