FG launches CNG, electric vehicle initiative in Kano

The Federal Government launched the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) in Kano State on Thursday as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, strengthen energy security and drive economic growth across northern Nigeria. Speaking at the launch held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, the Vice President, […]

The Federal Government launched the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) in Kano State on Thursday as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, strengthen energy security and drive economic growth across northern Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the initiative was aimed at building a more competitive, resilient and energy-secure Nigeria.

He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was taking bold steps to reposition the country through alternative energy solutions.

“We are gathered here not merely to attend another government programme launch, but to witness the foundation for a more competitive, more resilient and more energy-secure Nigeria,” he said.

Shettima described Kano as one of Africa’s historic commercial capitals, noting that transportation remained central to the state’s economy because of its strategic role in trade and logistics across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

“Transportation costs affect everything — food prices, manufacturing, logistics and the lives of ordinary Nigerians. The President understood that Nigeria could not continue depending entirely on expensive traditional fuel systems while sitting on over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves,” he said.

He added that the transition to CNG and electric mobility was not only an energy policy but also an economic strategy aimed at reducing costs and supporting long-term development.

He disclosed that several companies, including Greenville LNG, NIPCO, AY Shafa and others, had already invested billions of naira in gas infrastructure across northern Nigeria.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, said President Tinubu mandated the initiative to provide sustainable alternatives following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Ahmed said the initiative had, over the last 20 months, expanded across more than 28 states, supported over 58 refuelling stations, deployed thousands of CNG buses and tricycles, and trained over 7,000 Nigerians.

He added that more than 300 conversion partners had been onboarded nationwide, including 41 centres in Kano State alone.

According to him, the initiative had already attracted over $2 billion in investment commitments and described Kano as a strategic hub for the northern transport corridor.

On his part, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the initiative would directly improve the lives of millions of residents by reducing transportation costs and creating jobs.

Represented at the event by senior government officials, Yusuf said the state government had already begun collaborating with the federal government and private investors to develop gas and electric mobility infrastructure across the state.