The Nigerian government has set an ambitious target to convert 250,000 vehicles each year to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of its strategy to reduce energy costs and generate job opportunities for youths. This initiative was announced by Titilope Gbadamosi, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring, and Delivery, during a National Youth Conference organized by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in collaboration with her office in Abuja.
Gbadamosi explained that the CNG program, launched by President Bola Tinubu, aims to counterbalance the effects of the removal of petroleum subsidies by offering more affordable and sustainable energy alternatives. She emphasized that transitioning to CNG not only addresses environmental concerns but also provides significant job creation, skills development, and innovation opportunities for the youth.
“The event, themed ‘Opportunities for Youth in the CNG Conversion Value Chain, Safety, and Benefits in the Usage of CNG in the Automotive Sector,’ is designed to introduce the technical aspects of CNG and to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to excel in this sector,” Gbadamosi noted.
Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director General of the NADDC, encouraged young people to visit the NADDC portal to become accredited to operate CNG conversion workshops. “You can now log on to www.naddc.gov.ng to get accredited. There is a section where you can register your work, and each accredited workshop will have a QR code that reveals its details,” Osanipin explained.
Osanipin also highlighted that the NADDC, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has developed a National Occupational Standard for training youth and practitioners in CNG conversion. The council will soon launch a week of free nationwide training, providing participants with free kits.
In support of this initiative, Mr. Emmanuel Ojowuro from the Bank of Industry (BoI) announced the bank’s readiness to finance CNG conversion kits and provide working capital for new businesses in this field. “We are prepared to support you with the necessary funds for the conversion process and business operations,” Ojowuro said.
Mr. Micheal Olugbemi, Program Director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), highlighted Nigeria’s substantial natural gas reserves. “With over 232 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of gas already discovered, Nigeria has enough gas to power Europe for 50 years and Nigeria itself for 99 years. Our gas is cheaper, safer, more reliable, and better for the environment compared to imported petrol and diesel. We have no reason to import these fuels when we have such a vast and affordable resource,” Olugbemi added.
Written By: Idu Sunita