President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to ease the effect of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians by reducing energy costs.

This was made known in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Ngelale noted that the initiative would revolutionise the transportation landscape in the country, targeting over 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing PMS-dependent vehicles, while simultaneously bolstering in-country manufacturing, local assembly and expansive job creation in line with the presidential directive.

He said the initiative, which comprises a Comprehensive Adoption Strategy, will include empowering workshops programme/nationwide network of workshops, local assembly, and job creation as key points of emphasis with an initial focus on mass transit systems and student hubs in order to significantly reduce transit costs for the general populace in the immediate term.

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The presidential spokesman stated that the PCNGI will facilitate the provision of workshops across all geopolitical zones and states with essential kits and comprehensive training for newly employed staff, thus creating new opportunities for technical skill development and employment for Nigerians.

Ngelale added that the new nationwide network of workshops, to be established through the initiative, would ensure widespread access and demand side utilization of CNG technology and CNG-related expertise, thereby facilitating smoother transitions for vehicle owners at the wider benefit of the Nigerian economy.

Ngelale stated that under the aegis of the PCNGI, the strategic objectives that will be achieved include the development of new stakeholder-operated Intrastate Mass Transit systems built on CNG; support for states to onboard new CNG buses as part of their Intrastate Mass Transit network (wholesale conversion, retro-fitting and new purchase); and the deployment of CNG buses through existing Private Mass Transit operators, including new financing programmes for operators through an innovative asset finance programme.

Others are the incentivize investors to invest in CNG processing, distribution and utilization by providing incentives for enhanced investment and partnership; and deliver training and technology transfer to support the After-Sales Services and maintenance sub-industry to create sustainable jobs.

Ngelale, therefore, noted that the launch of the initiative underscores President Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to fostering a cleaner environment by reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy security through the utilization of domestic natural gas resources.

The Star