Abuja Breathes Again: The Woman, the Movement, and the Clean Air Revolution in Nigeria

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Abdulrahman Aliagan

When Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe walks into a room, she does not simply appear—she transforms the atmosphere. Her presence radiates the warmth of empathy and the precision of a scientist, the firmness of a reformer and the compassion of a healer.

A physician by training and an environmental strategist by destiny, Dr. Fasawe—now the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health and Environment Secretariat—embodies a philosophy that has become the soul of a national awakening: environment is life. When it fails, healthcare fails. When it collapses, society collapses. And when it is ignored, hope itself begins to suffocate.

This conviction led to one of Nigeria’s most ambitious public health and environmental transformations: Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja. The movement did not begin in a boardroom but with a simple domestic discomfort—a father inhaling the sharp fumes of charcoal incense inside his Abuja home. If something so small irritated him, what of the millions of Nigerian women who inhale dense smoke while cooking?

What of infants strapped to their mothers’ backs, inhaling toxins before they speak their first words? That relatable discomfort inspired a far-reaching realization about Nigeria’s hidden epidemic: household air pollution, the silent killer in smoky kitchens across the country.

This realization converged at the newly unveiled Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, where the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and supported by the political vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, launched a historic clean-cooking and clean-air transition initiative.

The programme, powered by the strong partnership of IHS Nigeria, immediately stood out not as another government pronouncement but as a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against respiratory diseases, environmental degradation, rising cancer prevalence, poverty induced by energy costs, and the gender inequities long embedded in traditional cooking methods.

To understand the fire behind this movement, one must trace Dr. Fasawe’s path back to Ile-Ife, where she was raised under the gentle firmness of a mother whose discipline shaped her academic and moral foundation. Her journey through Obafemi Awolowo University Staff School, Federal Government Girls College Ido-Ani and Obafemi Awolowo University—where she earned her MBBS with distinction—instilled her with the excellence, order and empathy that now define her leadership.

Further studies at Lagos State University, the Liverpool School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, King’s College London, and the University of Cambridge expanded her mastery of public health, international health consultancy, mental health, and circular economy strategies.

As a young clinician, she discovered that most patients in the hospital suffered not from unavoidable ailments but from preventable conditions created by failing environments. This insight compelled her to step beyond hospital walls into the broader arena where health and environment intersect.

Her transformative leadership in Lagos, especially at LASEPA, turned environmental regulation into a people-centered movement, proving that waste could become wealth, that data could become policy, and that public health could not exist without environmental justice. Today, she brings that clarity, courage and innovation to the FCT.

The launch of Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja unfolded as a national spectacle of urgency and hope. The FCTA announced its plan to distribute 5,000 LPG cylinders—each accompanied by six months of free refills—to households across the six area councils. This initiative, designed to replace firewood and charcoal with safer alternatives, aims to combat the staggering reality that over 120 million Nigerians still rely on smoky biomass fuels.

The World Health Organization estimates that 3.2 million people die annually from household air pollution, with Nigerian women and children carrying the heaviest burden. Against this grim backdrop, the launch became a declaration that Nigeria is done cooking with death.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s political will elevated the initiative from a concept to a coordinated intervention. His support aligned the programme with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes environmental sustainability, improved living standards, and energy transition.

The Permanent Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Babayena Adams, underscored the economic implications, affirming that healthier households are more productive and that environmental protection directly strengthens the FCT’s GDP. He emphasized that beneficiary selection covered women, men, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, ensuring inclusivity and fairness.

From the private sector came a powerful reinforcement. Mohammed Darwish, the CEO of IHS Nigeria, described the initiative as life-changing, particularly for the women and children constantly exposed to toxic kitchen smoke. He reminded the audience that beyond the cylinders lies the real value: helping families breathe again and escape the silent dangers of traditional cooking fuels. His colleague, Ayotade Oyinlola, Executive Vice-President of IHS Nigeria, highlighted the economic relief the programme would bring, as cleaner cooking dramatically reduces medical expenses and improves overall household well-being.

Medical experts deepened the urgency. Dr. Ayuba Usman, Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist at the National Hospital Abuja, warned that clean cooking is one of the most effective preventive interventions against respiratory diseases and cancer.

His insights echoed the critical question raised by cancer prevention specialist Dr. Ramatu Usman: Why are more women who never smoked dying from lung cancer? The answer, she said, is found not in cigarettes but in smoky kitchens where firewood burns daily. With cancer treatment costing as much as ₦7 million monthly, prevention becomes not only lifesaving but economically essential.

The National Assembly’s presence at the event transformed the project from aspiration to policy. Hon. Dr. M. A. Oriyan, Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on FCT Health, issued a directive that reverberated across the hall: the 2026 national budget must not be presented without provisions for this programme. With that pronouncement, clean air moved from advocacy to legislation, from speech to enforceable national agenda.

As environmental groups, development partners, student associations and community-based organisations applauded the initiative, a moment of pure hope emerged when a child poet, Isabella, took the stage. Her soft but resolute voice carried a message that captured the soul of the movement: “Abuja, our hope will breathe again—free from smoke, free from pain.” The hall erupted. In her youthful words, the future found its innocence—and its courage.

The climax of the event came when LPG cylinders were handed to women from all six area councils, symbolizing not just distribution but liberation: liberation from respiratory disease, from economic strain, from deforestation-driven environmental decline, and from generations of smoky kitchens. It marked the beginning of what promises to be one of the most transformative clean-energy interventions in modern Abuja.

Yet, despite the scale of the celebration, Dr. Fasawe remains grounded. She continues to mentor young women, uplift communities, and preach the values of recycling, sustainability and environmental stewardship. Her belief that “everybody’s waste is somebody’s raw material” reflects a worldview that sees potential where others see problems, and solutions where others see obstacles.

The vision ahead is bold: a Nigeria where every household cooks safely; where children breathe clean air without fear; where environmental education becomes instinctive; where green corridors shape cities; where waste becomes industry; and where clean energy is accessible to all. But Dr. Fasawe warns that environment has no boundaries. If Abuja succeeds and Nasarawa fails, she says, the nation has not won. Clean air must spread from the FCT to all 36 states.

Today, Abuja stands not only as the political capital of Nigeria but as a rising Environmental Capital of Africa—an emerging model of modern public policy, compassionate leadership and sustainable innovation. At the heart of this transformation stands a woman who treats not only the human body, but the breathing soul of a city; a leader who understands that the fight for clean air is the fight for life itself.

Nigeria is breathing again. Abuja is leading. And the future—at last—smells clean.

*Aliagan wrote in from Abuja.

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Nosa Alekhuogie

Nigeria’s ISP Market: Spectranet, Starlink, FibreOne Control 65% of Active Subscribers as Market Shrinks

Nigeria’s Internet Service Provider market is shrinking fast, even as demand for faster broadband rises, and three companies now control nearly two-thirds of all users.

New Q2 2025 data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that Spectranet, Elon Musk’s Starlink, and FibreOne hold a dominant 65% share of all actively connected ISP customers, signalling a structural shakeout that is leaving many smaller providers behind.

A market under pressure

Nigeria’s ISP industry once looked like a vital path to broadband expansion. Today, it is struggling to survive. Out of 224 licensed ISPs, only 133 were active by the second quarter of 2025, meaning nearly 40 per cent have gone dormant.

These active providers serve a total of 313,713 customers. The top three ISPs alone account for 203,160 users, leaving 130 companies to compete for the remaining 110,553 accounts.

Industry analysts say this contraction is no surprise. Mobile Network Operators such as MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile now dominate internet access through their unified licenses. They offer both voice and data services and are aggressively expanding 4G, 5G, and Fibre-to-the-Home coverage.

The difference between the markets is stark. Active ISP customers total 313,713, while mobile internet subscriptions reach 140.6 million. This mismatch highlights how far ISPs have fallen behind.

The big three:

Spectranet holds the lead, but not firmly

Spectranet remains Nigeria’s largest ISP with 99,520 active customers in Q2 2025. But its dominance is weakening.

It reported 103,252 customers in Q1, meaning it lost nearly 4,000 subscribers in three months. The slow but consistent decline has raised concerns that Starlink, the satellite provider that entered Nigeria in 2023, could overtake it.

Spectranet has long marketed itself as a reliable, fibre-based provider. Yet, increasingly, customers are shifting to solutions that offer more flexibility. Complaints include slow speeds in dense areas, customer support delays, and the rising cost of data packages driven by exchange-rate pressures.

Starlink: The Fastest Growing ISP in Nigeria

Starlink reached 66,523 customers in the second quarter of 2025, up from 59,509 in the first quarter, making it the fastest-growing Internet Service Provider in Nigeria for the fourth quarter in a row. Its appeal lies in several key factors. Satellite coverage allows internet access virtually anywhere in the country, providing reliable connectivity even in remote or underserved regions.

The service delivers high speeds that meet both business and personal needs, while installation is straightforward, allowing users to set up quickly without complex infrastructure. For businesses, schools, and other organisations, Starlink reduces downtime and ensures smoother operations.

FibreOne: The quiet third force

FibreOne remains in third place with 37,117 customers in Q2 2025. It recovered from losses in Q1, showing strong demand for home and small-business fibre plans.

FibreOne has struggled with customer perception, especially regarding downtime and response speed. But the company has expanded to more residential estates, offering discounted installations and family streaming bundles.

Home broadband users say FibreOne remains cheaper than Starlink and often faster than Spectranet in estates with modern ducts.

However, its growth is limited by infrastructure costs. FTTH networks require heavy capital investment, and smaller ISPs struggle to scale.

The other players: Still significant, but marginalised

The other ISPs in Nigeria, while still present in the market, are much smaller and operate on the margins compared with the top three providers.

As of the second quarter of 2025, iPNX had 15,636 active customers, Tizeti had 13,996, Broadbased Communications had 9,942, and VDT had 5,325. These companies continue to have a dedicated base of enterprise clients and last-mile users, yet none can approach the scale, reach, or visibility of Spectranet, Starlink, or FibreOne.

Tizeti, for instance, has built its model around solar-powered towers and affordable home broadband services, but rising inflation, currency fluctuations, and increasing diesel prices have hampered its capacity to expand infrastructure rapidly.

Analysts warn that this long tail of smaller ISPs is gradually disappearing, a trend that poses serious risks to Nigeria’s broader ambitions for nationwide broadband connectivity.

Why the ISP market is shrinking

The Nigerian Communications Commission has acknowledged the ongoing decline in the country’s Internet Service Provider sector. Former Executive Vice Chairman Umar Danbatta revealed that by 2022, 568 licensed ISPs had become inactive, highlighting the scale of the industry’s challenges. He noted that Nigeria had granted licenses to 756 companies as of March 2022, yet only 188 remained operational, reflecting both market pressures and structural obstacles.

Danbatta attributed the decline to anti-competitive practices that have persisted within the industry, creating an uneven playing field for smaller operators and emerging providers. Speaking at an event, he outlined several additional factors that continue to constrain ISPs in Nigeria.

These included inadequate spectrum allocation, the high cost of bandwidth, steep charges for right-of-way, and widespread deficiencies in corporate governance. He emphasised that these challenges are compounded by limited investment capacity, debt burdens, and instances of infrastructure vandalism, all of which undermine the ability of indigenous ISPs to compete effectively.

Anti-competitive behaviour remains a major concern, alongside limited spectrum availability and the prohibitive costs of bandwidth and right-of-way access. Weak corporate governance, inadequate investment culture, and accumulated debt have further constrained smaller operators, while vandalism and sabotage of infrastructure have added operational risk. These difficulties have been exacerbated by the aggressive expansion of mobile network operators into fixed-line and home broadband services, a shift that has drawn many enterprise and residential customers away from traditional ISPs.

The launch of 5G services by MTN and Airtel in 2022 has transformed the competitive landscape, with coverage extending to major urban centres. These operators have promoted 5G routers to a wide range of clients, including small and medium-sized businesses, hotels, restaurants, and even banks that had previously relied on traditional ISPs.

While the regulator has taken steps to address these issues, deliberate policies and regulatory interventions are being explored to support smaller players and ensure their sustainability. The Commission is working to develop frameworks, guidelines, and determinations that promote fair competition across the telecommunications sector while ensuring transparency and openness among all stakeholders.

The rise of 5G and FTTH: A direct blow to ISPs

Nigeria’s ISPs initially grew strong by offering fixed wireless broadband, but the rapid expansion of 5G and Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) by mobile network operators has shifted the market in favour of the larger players.

MTN now targets enterprise clients with dedicated broadband teams, while Airtel focuses on homes and retail stores with new FTTH plans. Glo and 9mobile also offer bundled internet and voice services, increasing their appeal to both businesses and households.

With deeper financial resources, broader infrastructure, lower per-user costs, and the flexibility to offer multiple services under unified licenses, mobile operators have created a competitive advantage that traditional ISPs struggle to match. As a result, smaller and mid-sized ISPs are finding it increasingly difficult to retain customers and compete effectively in Nigeria’s broadband market.

Why the market still needs ISPs

Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan, designed to connect 70 per cent of the population to high-speed internet by the end of 2025, now faces serious challenges. Broadband penetration, which stood at around 44 per cent in late 2024, is significantly below the target, suggesting the ambitious goal may not be achieved on schedule. Industry experts caution that the ongoing sidelining of indigenous ISPs could further slow the country’s progress toward universal access, leaving key sectors underserved.

Despite the increasing pressures and intense competition from mobile network operators, internet service providers remain a critical component of the digital ecosystem. They provide dedicated connectivity to universities, hospitals, financial institutions, corporate offices, remote work hubs, cloud-based small and medium enterprises, and government networks.

While satellite-based solutions such as Starlink offer coverage advantages, they cannot fully replace the reliability and service quality of enterprise-grade fibre networks. Similarly, mobile networks alone are insufficient to meet the demands of institutions and organisations that require robust, stable, and high-capacity connections. Only a balanced, hybrid model combining both mobile and fixed-line providers can ensure a sustainable, inclusive internet infrastructure in Nigeria.

The broader implications for the market are significant. Nigeria’s ISP sector is experiencing the most substantial restructuring in its history. The top three players, Spectranet, Starlink, and FibreOne, now account for 65 per cent of all actively connected customers, leaving smaller providers increasingly marginalised or forced to exit the market entirely.

Mobile network operators continue to dominate overall internet access, leaving the ambitious broadband targets at considerable risk. Without timely, targeted policy intervention, the ISP landscape may shrink further even as the nation’s demand for high-quality broadband becomes more urgent.

Sustaining a diverse ISP market is essential not only for achieving national connectivity goals but also for ensuring that critical sectors and communities continue to receive reliable, high-speed internet when they need it the most.

Nosa Alekhuogie Nigeria’s ISP Market: Spectranet, Starlink, FibreOne Control 65% of Active Subscribers as Market Shrinks Nigeria’s Internet Service Provider market is shrinking fast, even as demand for faster broadband

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As Agbeyewa Farms Targets Bigger Share of $3.65bn Cassava Market

Raheem Akingbolu writes on how a new Memorandum of Understanding between the National Agricultural Land Development Authority and Agbeyewa Farms could drive industrial production, boost exports, and strengthen food security through the $3.65 billion cassava market

When President Bola Tinubu took office in 2023, his administration identified the need to move beyond oil and gas to secure long-term economic stability. Years of reliance on crude revenues had exposed the country to price shocks and global energy shifts, making diversification not just desirable but essential.

To confront this, the government adopted a dual-track approach: extracting maximum value from the oil and gas sector while aggressively broadening the economy through investments in renewable energy, gas utilization, solid minerals, and wider economic reforms.

Agriculture quickly emerged as a pivotal pillar in this strategy. Beyond food supply, the sector offered a pathway to foreign exchange earnings, reduced import pressure, and a stronger currency. In the past two years, the administration has pursued measures such as advancing technology, scaling processing capacity, and tackling systemic issues like land titling to attract investment and promote mechanization; all aimed at repositioning agriculture as a viable industrial and export engine.

In a major stride toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), recently signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Agbeyewa Farms, a partnership set to redefine the nation’s cassava value chain and accelerate industrial-scale production.

The MoU signing ceremony held in Abuja, brought together key government officials, industry stakeholders, development partners, and private sector leaders in a strong show of commitment to agricultural transformation.

Speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of NALDA, Cornelius Olusegun Adebayo, reaffirmed the agency’s strategic drive to support private sector-led agricultural expansion under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He recalled that his initial visit to Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State in 2024 was a defining moment that influenced NALDA’s decision to prioritize cassava as a critical focus crop and partnership with Agbeyewa Farms.

“Our conviction to partner with Agbeyewa Farms is anchored on the clear capacity of their investment, the scale of their operations, and the size of the farms. These factors validate our belief that Agbeyewa Farms is not just the largest cassava farm in Nigeria, but indeed the largest in Africa.”
“We have moved beyond producing raw cassava quantities. The next phase for Nigeria is capturing the global market and this partnership is a key direction towards achieving that mark.”

He further announced that under the MoU, NALDA will clear an additional 5,000 hectares of land to support Agbeyewa’s large-scale cultivation drive, secure raw material availability for processing, and deepen industrial sector participation.

“Government has no business in running businesses. Rather, government should enable businesses to thrive. With Agbeyewa, we are building a model that proves that the private sector, supported with the right policies and legislations, can scale faster, bigger, and more sustainably,” he added.

In his remarks, Mr. OSKA Seyi Aiyeleso, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Agbeyewa Farms, expressed deep appreciation to NALDA for translating months of strategic engagement into a formal alliance that will reshape Nigeria’s agricultural future.

He reflected on Agbeyewa’s bold growth trajectory, disclosing that the company has already cultivated over 3,000 hectares of cassava, with expansion plans to reach 5,000 hectares by the end of 2025.

“Agbeyewa Farms is today the largest cassava farm in Africa. With this collaboration, we are positioned to become the largest in the world. This is not just growth; it is transformation. This is not just farming, this is industrial repositioning.”

Aiyeleso added that Agbeyewa’s operating model is anchored on four core pillars — cultivation, aggregation, agro-processing, and agro-training, driven by full mechanisation. He also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to economic empowerment, revealing that its workforce has now grown to over 2,000 direct jobs, with thousands more supported across its value chain.

Both leaders applauded President Tinubu for championing reforms that strengthen private sector participation, unlock investment, and remove systemic barriers to growth.

Delivering the technical framework for the partnership, Technical Adviser to NALDA, Mathew O. Owolabi, described the MoU as a strategic collaboration designed to share resources, mitigate operational risks, strengthen transparency, and unlock long-term institutional value for Nigeria’s agricultural economy.

Observers believe that this development is still in line with the Tinubu administration’s approach to the sector’s growth, which focuses on food security through a combination of declaring a state of emergency, mechanization programs, and financial support for farmers. Key initiatives include the launch of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), distributing 2,000 tractors and other implements, and implementing the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme. The administration has also partnered internationally, created the Ministry of Livestock Development, and is working to boost dry season farming.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the agric sector have expressed optimism about the transformation that is expected to take place in Nigeria’s cassava industry in the near future.

This position was expressed during a workshop organised early this year, by Cavista Holdings and Agbeyewa Farms which was held at Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Ekiti State.

The event, held just a day after Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture’s visit to Agbeyewa Farms, brought together representatives from Cavista Holdings, Agbeyewa Farms, the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Alliance (NCIA) and the Lagos Business School (LBS) among others.

The Chief of Staff to the Ekiti State Governor, Niyi Adebayo, represented the state government and highlighted ongoing initiatives to boost cassava production and agribusiness development.

Adebayo outlined the government’s land-clearing initiative, which has opened 5,000 hectares for young farmers adding that the state has introduced mechanization and agribusiness programs for over 3,000 youth, aligning with national goals to increase agricultural productivity and employment.
During the workshop, stakeholders engaged in in-depth discussions on agricultural financing, mechanisation, logistics efficiency, and value addition, all geared toward positioning Nigeria as a leader in cassava processing.

A lecturer at Lagos Business School, Doyin Salami, emphasised that farmer aggregation is critical to unlocking financing and improving productivity. By organising smallholder farmers into structured groups, access to credit, mechanisation, and technical support can be significantly improved.
Also speaking, Head of Partnerships, at NADF), Nasir Ingawa, stated that limited access to financing remains one of the biggest barriers to productivity and industrial-scale processing.

Ingawa said to bridge this gap, NADF would work to develop tailored financing solutions that will enable smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to scale operations, adopt modern agricultural practices, and integrate into larger value chains.

The workshop concluded with a commitment to concrete action plans across four key areas: strengthening farmer aggregation which involves developing structured out grower models to increase financing access, mechanisation adoption, and productivity.

It commits to scaling up processing infrastructure i.e mobilising investment for industrial-scale processing plants to expand cassava’s value-added potential.
There are also plans of improving logistics and market access that is, addressing inefficiencies in storage and transportation to reduce post-harvest losses.
Another thing is policy and investment facilitation which involves engaging policymakers and financial institutions to create an enabling environment for cassava industrialization.

“The Cavista Holdings-led workshop has set a clear path forward for transforming Nigeria’s cassava industry,” the company said in a statement.
“With continued investment and policy support, Nigeria is well-positioned to become a leader in cassava processing, unlocking billions in economic value, creating jobs, and strengthening food security,” it added.

For Agbeyewa farms Limited, the recent feat was not by accident. In 2024, the company unveiled an ambitious 12-point agenda designed to transform cassava farming and address food insecurity.

The agenda was made public during a presentation to a high-level delegation from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) during a working visit to the farm on December 2, 2024.

Unveiling the blueprint document, the Director of Strategy for Cavista Holdings (parent company of Agbeyewa Farms), Kabir Shagaya, explained that this 12-step plan builds on the successful signing of an MOU between the company’s chairman, Niyi John Olajide and the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji in May 2024 to establish a state-of-the-art cassava farm covering 100,000 hectares within the state.

This initiative is to be delivered through an in-grower/out-grower cooperative programme where eligible farmers will be organized into cooperatives of 100-150 members, each managing a 500-hectare plot.

According to Shagaya, “This programme is expected to impact 1,500 farmers across 10 cooperatives, benefiting approximately 7,500 individuals, including families, thereby supporting local communities and fostering economic growth and scalability.”

Shagaya also revealed an investment plan for international donors, like USAID and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), to join their programme and support various aspects of their operations, such as farmer integration, infrastructure costs, initial operational needs, training, cooperative operations, and market integration through off-taker arrangements, all aimed at significantly reducing post-harvest losses.

Other highlights of the company’s plans include: massive land clearing and preparation for 2025 farming season in partnership with NALDA), extensive farmer training through its in-house Training Academy, and the development of an Agbeyewa Model Town (consisting residential units, schools, healthcare facilities, recreational spaces, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) logistics for transportation within and outside the community).

The USAID Team, comprising Xavier Preciado (Senior Agriculture Advisor), Susan Oranye (Project Management Specialist; Private Sector Engagement) and Grace Bojuto (Manager/Executive Assistant to the Mission Director) expressed their admiration for the high level of expertise, professionalism, and technology employed by the Agbeyewa team.