Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to now include electric vehicles, a move that restructures the government’s approach to clean mobility.
The initiative will henceforth be known as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV).
With the approval, the expanded body is tasked with leading and coordinating Nigeria’s clean mobility strategy, overseeing both gas-driven vehicles and electric vehicles nationwide.
A statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the initiative will continue to drive the deployment of CNG infrastructure, including mother and daughter stations, integrated refuelling units, and nationwide conversion programmes. In addition, it will now anchor the development and rollout of electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructure, and related investments.
Gas remains a competitive and strategic fuel for transportation, according to the statement, leveraging Nigeria’s abundant resources to lower costs, strengthen energy security, and conserve foreign exchange. Officials say the inclusion of electric vehicles further reinforces the government’s agenda for affordable, efficient, and environmentally responsible mobility.
President Tinubu has directed the Executive Chairman of PiCNG & EV to immediately establish a coordinated process for the rapid deployment of vehicle conversion kits across the country. The President also instructed that such kits be made accessible to Nigerians at a cost that is not burdensome.
To achieve this, the initiative will work with CreditCorp Nigeria, financial institutions, and other relevant partners to design cost-effective financing structures aimed at making vehicle conversions widely accessible to the public.
The President further directed the accelerated deployment of Mobile Refuelling Units (MRUs) to expand access to CNG while permanent infrastructure continues to scale.
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