President Bola Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to immediately deploy 100,000 conversion kits for petrol-powered vehicles and tricycles across Nigeria, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The directive was disclosed on Tuesday by the Executive Director of PiCNG, Ismael Ahmed, after a closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ahmed explained that the meeting focused on reviewing the current energy situation and exploring ways to accelerate the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric mobility in Nigeria’s transportation sector.
According to him, the President sought updates on ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing transportation costs for Nigerians amid global energy market volatility.
“The President, as usual, is always trying to get updates on what is going on, especially with the war in the Middle East and the rising cost of petrol and diesel,” Ahmed said.
“He wanted to know what we are doing at PiCNG and with electric vehicles to scale up the availability of gas and CNG nationwide, so that transportation costs for Nigerians can be reduced.”
Ahmed added that the President gave a direct instruction for the immediate deployment of approximately 100,000 conversion kits, which will enable petrol vehicles and tricycles to run on gas.
He noted that the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to ensure that the kits are quickly made available in the market and that conversion centres across the country are adequately equipped.
“We are working with many stakeholders to incentivize and get these kits into the market immediately, enabling the conversion of a large number of vehicles and tricycles,” he said.
Ahmed also disclosed that Tinubu directed the acceleration of infrastructure development for gas refuelling stations and electric mobility charging systems across the country.
Particular attention, he said, is being given to the Northern transport corridor to guarantee wider access to CNG and electric mobility options.
“We aim to deploy the 100,000 kits within the next two to three weeks, and conversion centres will be busy with conversion activities,” Ahmed said.
He further revealed that the government plans to expand the number of CNG refuelling stations along major transport routes. In Kano, he noted, two CNG stations are already operational, while five or six additional stations are currently under development.
Ahmed said the infrastructure rollout will extend along strategic corridors from Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, and onward to Maiduguri, with several refuelling units planned along these routes.
“The President wants results delivered quickly so that Nigerians can access CNG and electric mobility easily,” he added.
On collaboration with manufacturers, Ahmed said the initiative is attracting both local and international partners interested in establishing assembly plants in Nigeria.
He explained that the programme is expected to stimulate job creation while expanding access to cleaner and more affordable transportation technologies.
“We are partnering with many local and international manufacturers who want to set up assembly lines in Nigeria. This initiative is about job creation and increasing access to these technologies,” Ahmed said.
He also disclosed that PiCNG is working closely with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to provide solar-powered charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, particularly in off-grid locations.
According to him, Nigerians have already begun importing electric vehicles, and the government is committed to ensuring that sufficient infrastructure is available to support their adoption nationwide.
