The Nigerian Presidency has announced an ambitious initiative to introduce approximately 2,700 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses and tricycles before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office on May 29, 2024. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote cleaner, safer, and more affordable transportation alternatives in the country.
According to Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the federal government plans to establish 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites across 18 states by the end of 2024. This infrastructure will support the transition to CNG-powered vehicles.
Onanuga stated, “From the end of May, Nigeria will take significant strides to join the ranks of nations that have already adopted large fleets of CNG vehicles. Approximately 2,500 tricycles will be ready for deployment before May 29, 2024, with plans to deliver 200 CNG buses by the first anniversary of the Tinubu administration.”
The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), launched in October 2023, five months after the removal of petrol subsidies, aims to deliver compressed natural gas, particularly for mass transit. The federal government has earmarked N100 billion (part of the N500 billion palliative budget) to purchase 5,500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), 100 electric buses, and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, as well as to develop CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations nationwide.
Onanuga emphasized that the initiative is designed to ease the burden of increased fuel prices on the masses. “After months of detailed planning and background work, the committee driving the initiative is set to deliver on President Tinubu’s vision and promise,” he affirmed.
The PCNGI has established partnerships with private sector companies, including JET, Mikano, Mojo, and Brilliant EV, located in various parts of the country, to assemble the semi-knocked-down components of CNG buses. Additionally, a new plant on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be dedicated to assembling CNG tricycles, while Brilliant EV will assemble electric vehicles upon receiving the necessary components.
Onanuga highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure the safe and reliable conversion of vehicles to CNG, including the development and approval of a safety policy document outlining 80 standards and regulations. Furthermore, the PCNGI plans to sell thousands of conversion kits for gasoline-powered buses and taxis at subsidised rates, especially to commercial vehicle drivers, to reduce the cost of public transportation.
Private sector companies, such as NIPCO, BOVAS, and MRS, are actively involved in offering refilling services for CNG vehicles and serving as conversion centres. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Limited) is also expected to announce the locations for CNG refilling and conversion centres nationwide.
To monitor the initiative’s progress, the PCNGI will launch the MYCNG.NG App, which will embed the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System and display CNG conversion and refuelling sites across the country.
Onanuga emphasised the importance of private sector collaboration, including with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and players in the downstream sector of the transportation chain and financiers, to achieve the vision of delivering one million gas vehicles.
The federal government’s CNG vehicle deployment plan represents a significant step towards promoting sustainable and affordable transportation solutions in Nigeria, while also addressing environmental concerns and enhancing energy security.