Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has held a meeting with a delegation from Greenville CNG/LNG, led by its Chairman, Mr. Eddy van den Broeke, to fast-track the establishment of a Compressed Natural Gas hub in Gombe State.
The meeting, which took place at the Gombe State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, was attended by the company’s Managing Director, Ritu Sahajwalla, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mutiu Sommonu. Discussions centered on finalizing plans for a major energy infrastructure project aimed at delivering cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective fuel options for transportation and industrial use across Gombe and beyond.
The proposed hub will include Liquefied to Compressed Natural Gas refill stations. Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed that the state government has already allocated land for the project and approved the engineering designs. He stated, “We are committed to leveraging natural gas to make transportation more affordable, reduce environmental pollution and stimulate industrial growth in our region.”
Mr. Eddy van den Broeke explained that one of the major obstacles in Northern Nigeria has been the lack of gas pipelines, which has limited access to affordable clean energy. He said the Greenville-led project will bridge this gap through the trucking of LNG from the South to Gombe, where it will be regasified and distributed as CNG for various purposes. He commended the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, stressing that Gombe’s location and favorable policies make it an ideal choice for such a regional gas hub.
The CNG hub is expected to significantly cut the cost of transportation by providing cheaper alternatives for vehicles, including public transport systems. Plans are underway to introduce CNG-powered tricycles and other vehicles as part of Gombe State’s transportation master plan. Conversion centres will also be established to enable vehicle owners to switch from petrol and diesel to natural gas, a move that will boost energy security and reduce harmful emissions.
According to officials present at the meeting, the next steps include mobilizing equipment and resources to the site, completing technical documentation, and carrying out the groundbreaking for the smooth execution of the project.
It will be recalled that a Director from Greenville CNG/LNG, Alhaji Yusuf Zaiyana, was recently in Gombe with a technical team to inspect the allocated four hectares of land and collect necessary approvals and drawings. He revealed that Greenville is committing over 2 million dollars to the CNG and LCNG projects, with mobilization to site expected to begin shortly.
Once completed, the CNG hub in Gombe will not only serve the state but also extend to the North-East and parts of the North-West, creating jobs, lowering fuel costs, and promoting a cleaner environment.