The Nigerian Presidency has unveiled a plan to introduce around 2,700 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses and tricycles by May 29, 2024, which is when President Bola Tinubu completes one year in office. The initiative is aimed at providing cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly energy for mass transit in Nigeria.
Under the plan, 2,500 tricycles and 200 buses will be deployed by May 29, 2024. To support the deployment of these vehicles, 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites will be established across 18 states in Nigeria by the end of 2024. The Federal Government has set aside N100bn for the purchase of 5,500 CNG vehicles, 100 electric buses, and more than 20,000 CNG conversion kits.
To assemble the semi-knocked-down components of the CNG buses, four plants owned by JET, Mikano, Mojo, and Brilliant EV will be used. Furthermore, private sector players such as NIPCO, BOVAS, and MRS have invested over $50m in refuelling stations, conversion centres, and mother stations to support this initiative. The NNPC Limited has also come on board and will announce locations for CNG refilling and conversion centres nationwide.
To ensure that the initiative meets the highest safety and quality standards, the Presidential CNG Initiative is working with 22 agency partners, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, to develop 80 Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion and Associated Appliances Standards for the country. Additionally, the MYCNG.NG App will be launched to monitor CNG conversion and refuelling sites.
This ambitious initiative is expected to revolutionize mass transit in Nigeria and contribute to the country’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and tackle climate change.
