The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to deploy its first fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles in May, coinciding with the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu's tenure. The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, detailing plans to introduce buses and tricycles as part of a broader strategy to promote cleaner, more economical transportation options.
This ambitious initiative aims to integrate about one million CNG vehicles by 2027, significantly reducing the reliance on diesel and petrol, substances known for their higher pollution levels. Michael Oluwagbemi leads the committee tasked with implementing this transition, which promises to make transportation safer and more environmentally friendly.
The government has allocated N100 billion from a N500 billion palliative budget to fund the acquisition of 5,500 CNG vehicles, including 100 electric buses and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits. This move is supported by additional investments from private sector partners who have committed over $50 million towards developing refueling stations, conversion centers, and the necessary infrastructure.
President Tinubu has facilitated this development by approving necessary tax and duty waivers to stimulate private investments in the CNG sector. A safety policy document establishing 80 standards and regulations has also been developed to ensure the secure conversion of vehicles to CNG.
Onanuga highlighted that transitioning to CNG would help Nigeria meet its commitments under the Paris Climate Accord by reducing tailpipe emissions by up to 40 percent. He referenced several countries that have successfully increased their fleets of natural gas-powered vehicles to reduce pollution.
The local production of these vehicles is set to expand, with plants owned by companies such as JET, Mikano, Mojo, and Brilliant EV, playing significant roles. These companies are involved in assembling both CNG and electric vehicles, with the latter aimed at regions currently without CNG infrastructure.
In collaboration with partners like NIPCO and BOVAS, the government plans to establish a network of refueling and conversion centers across Nigeria. This expansion is part of a larger effort to decrease the cost of public transportation and support the commercial transport sector's transition to more sustainable fuel options.
With private sector collaboration, the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) is poised to establish 100 conversion workshops and 60 refueling sites across 18 states by the end of the year, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s energy transition and environmental stewardship.
0 Comments