Nigeria’s clean mobility transition is moving faster than ever, with the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative reporting major milestones in investment, vehicle conversion, and national rollout. The Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PI-CNG), Ismael Ahmed, announced in Abuja on Thursday that the country has secured over $2 billion in investment commitments and has already converted more than 100,000 vehicles nationwide to compressed natural gas. He spoke during a press conference to launch PI-CNG 2.0, describing the progress as evidence of the initiative’s credibility and long-term viability.
According to Ahmed, the Federal Government is now shifting more attention toward the mass rollout of electric vehicles, building on the momentum of the CNG programme. He explained that the PI-CNG has deployed 58 CNG refuelling stations across 28 states in partnership with major operators, helping widen access to cleaner and more affordable transport energy.
The Pi-CNG, created in 2023 as a flagship Federal Government programme, was designed to support the widespread adoption of compressed natural gas and electric vehicles, especially for mass transit systems. The programme aims to drive cost savings, job opportunities, energy security, and environmental benefits.
Ahmed stated that the initiative has already onboarded over 300 automotive conversion partners and trained more than 6,000 Nigerians. The training beneficiaries include 150 armed forces personnel and 220 women in Kano State. He emphasised that PI-CNG 2.0 will deepen local content development, noting that a 10-hectare industrial park is being set up in Ajaokuta for domestic manufacturing of CNG equipment. This facility is expected to cut import dependence, lower asset costs, and strengthen the local supply chain.
Sharing the programme’s journey, Ahmed said, “PI-CNG 1.0 has achieved remarkable progress, moving from virtually nothing in October 2023 when there were only one or two conversion centres and perhaps a single feeding station into about 58 refuelling stations today, with 100,000 vehicles converted to CNG in less than two years.”
He described Nigeria’s pace as unmatched, adding, “The speed of adoption is unprecedented. For comparison, it took India 18 years to develop into a CNG nation, while Iran required 15 to 20 years, investing about $5.5 billion for a population of about 20 million. Nigeria, by contrast, is achieving this transformation for a population of over 200 million in a fraction of the time.”
He credited the President’s commitment for the rapid progress, saying, “The President ensured that the initiative was taken seriously, recognizing the need for rapid action. From its setup in October 2023 to today, PI-CNG has successfully converted 100,000 vehicles, demonstrating the scale and urgency of Nigeria’s clean mobility transition.”
Ahmed also revealed that starting January 2026, five new liquefied CNG and daughter stations will be commissioned in Kano, with further expansions planned in Kaduna, Gombe, Maiduguri, and Katsina. He said the Northern Corridor expansion will help anchor a reliable gas supply for underserved regions and ensure that availability keeps pace with rising demand.
While acknowledging the programme’s achievements, Ahmed explained that PI-CNG remains aware of challenges linked to large-scale energy transitions. He said, “Changing energy habits takes time, and logistical complexities in gas delivery, limited infrastructure in certain regions, and the need to strengthen local technical capacity are ongoing considerations.” He added that the initiative views these challenges as opportunities to refine its strategy and improve supply reliability.
He stated, “Rather than viewing these as obstacles, PI-CNG sees them as opportunities to refine strategy, expand access, enhance supply reliability, and accelerate the adoption of both CNG and electric mobility solutions nationwide.”
Ahmed stressed that the mandate of PI-CNG covers both compressed natural gas and electric mobility, saying, “It is important to note that PI-CNG’s mandate extends beyond CNG to also include electric mobility, a dual focus entrusted by the President. The initiative aims to incentivise the adoption of both CNG and electric vehicles.”
He said the launch of PI-CNG 2.0 signals a new era focused on scaling operations, deepening market integration, and increasing local manufacturing, with electric mobility now receiving greater emphasis alongside ongoing CNG deployment.
