President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is set to begin the nationwide deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles as part of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI).
Led by Michael Oluwagbemi, an oil and gas expert, the committee has already delivered some major foundational reforms to facilitate the transition to a CNG and Electric Vehicles future as promised by the President.
All is now ready for delivery of the first set of critical assets for deployment and launch of the CNG initiative ahead of the first anniversary of the Tinubu administration on May 29.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Nigeria will soon join other nations like India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina, and Italy, which already boast large fleets of CNG vehicles.
Onanuga said that the Presidential CNG Initiative, launched in October the previous year following the removal of the fuel subsidy, aims to provide cheaper, safer, and more climate-friendly energy, particularly for mass transit.
ALSO READ: JAMB sanctions official for asking Muslim student to remove headscarf
“As part of this initiative, the Federal Government allocated N100 billion from the N500 billion palliative budget to purchase 5500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), 100 Electric buses, and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, while also promoting the development of CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations,” the Presidential aide explained.
He further noted that with necessary tax and duty waivers approved by President Tinubu in December 2023, the PCNGI committee is partnering with the private sector to deliver the promise of the initiative.
According to Onanuga, the private sector has responded with over $50 million in actual investments in refuelling stations, conversion centres, and mother stations.”
“A safety policy document on 80 standards and regulations that must be strictly adhered to by operators has been developed and approved to ensure CNG conversions are done safely and reliably.”
The deployment of CNG buses and tricycles, coupled with the goal of having at least one million natural gas-propelled vehicles on Nigerian roads by 2027, signals a significant energy transition in the transportation industry.”
“This transition will gradually phase out the use of more expensive diesel and PMS, as many vehicles, including trucks, transition to natural gas, which Nigeria has in abundance across at least 30 out of the 36 states of the federation,” he added.
The Presidential aide maintained that the Tinubu administration has opened a new industry, along with creating thousands of new jobs.
“In all, over 600 buses are targeted for production in the first phase, which will be accomplished this year.”
ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests 3 wanted drug traffickers, another with 1m opioid pills
“As part of private sector collaboration, NIPCO and BOVAS are involved in offering refilling services for the CNG vehicles and also serving as conversion centers,” Onanuga stated.
The Presidency said as part of private sector collaboration, NIPCO and BOVAS are involved in offering refilling services for the CNG vehicles and also serving as conversion centres.
“NIPCO is setting up 32 stations nationwide to offer the services. The company has completed the set-up of four of the CNG stations.
“Likewise, BOVAS is setting up eight stations in Ibadan, two each in Ekiti, Abuja and four in Ilorin. MRS is also involved.
“It is making efforts to announce where its refilling stations and conversion centres will be,” the Presidential aide explained.
