The Federal Government has attracted more than two billion dollars in investments into the Compressed Natural Gas subsector, according to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles. The Executive Chairman and CEO of PiCNG, Mr Ismaeel Ahmed, revealed this in Abuja during the unveiling of CNG products by Alfa Design Nigeria Limited and an engagement session with industry stakeholders. The unveiling was attended by several dignitaries, including Malam Ali M. Ali, NAN Managing Director, Mr Mubarak Abdul, Alfa Designs Chief Operating Officer, Pankaj Bohhra from Mijo Auto Gas, PiCNG officials and other partners.
The products showcased included CNG conversion kits developed by Mijo AutoGas, a CNG cylinder manufactured by EKC International, a CNG Mother Station produced by CIMC ENRIC and an Optical Gas Imaging Camera from Opgal Optronics. Ahmed, who was represented by the Chief Compliance Officer of PiCNG, Mr Zayyanu Tambari, noted that the industry has recorded massive growth within two years. He explained that private sector investment already stands at over 1.8 billion dollars, rounded up to two billion dollars, and the initiative is now targeting five billion dollars by 2027.
“As of 2023, when this programme started, the CNG sector was virtually non-existent,” he said. “It was not really attracting any serious investment from any quarters. Today, as I speak, we have attracted over 1.8 billion dollars investments. We have rounded up to two billion dollars of private sector investment in the CNG subsector in just two years.”
He described the event as a reinforcement of rising investment and expressed confidence that the industry could reach double-digit billion-dollar inflows considering the level of private sector interest and job opportunities emerging in the ecosystem. He also disclosed that the sector has generated more than 80,000 direct jobs. With indirect jobs estimated at a one-to-four ratio, the target for 2027 stands at 300,000 direct jobs.
“We are already at 80,000 direct jobs. Again, we are reasonably confident we will meet and exceed this target,” he stated. Ahmed recalled that President Bola Tinubu launched the CNG programme in 2023 as an important part of Nigeria’s energy mix. He noted that the country had only seven conversion centres in 2023, but that number has grown to about 369 and continues to rise. The 2027 projection targets 3,000 centres, which Ahmed believes could be exceeded based on current expansion trends.
On refuelling infrastructure, he explained that the country had only 20 CNG refuelling stations in 2023, but now has more than 68 licensed facilities and over 150 others under construction in different stages. The goal for 2027 is to have between 2,000 and 2,500 CNG retail outlets nationwide.
In October 2025, PiCNG also announced the rollout of 2,700 CNG-powered buses under the Presidential CNG Initiative. The buses are expected to reduce transport costs and accelerate gas adoption across the country. Officials said the development would boost demand for conversion and refuelling facilities, while strengthening investor confidence and expanding public awareness of CNG opportunities.
