… “We must lead the way to prosperity by example”- Tinubu to public officials

Oredola Adeola

President Bola Tinubu has directed the mandatory procurement of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles by all Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as parts of the administration’s commitment to ensuring energy security, reducing fuel costs, and transitioning Nigeria to cleaner energy sources.

The President has therefore banned members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, from purchasing petrol dependent vehicles affirming that there is no turning back in the energy reforms initiated by his administration.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement on Monday

According to him, the directive is in line with Tinubu’s commitment to ensure energy security, drive utility, and cut high fuel costs.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity further revealed that the President’s directive is also in furtherance of Nigeria’s effort to transition to cleaner energy as CNG-enabled vehicles have been adjudged to produce lower emissions, even as they present a more affordable alternative for Nigerian energy consumers.

Addressing members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the State House on Monday, President , “This nation will not progress forward if we continue to dance on the same spot.

“We have the will to drive the implementation of CNG adoption across the country, and we must set an example as public officials in leading the way to that prosperous future that we are working to achieve for our people.

“It starts with us, and in seeing that we are serious, Nigerians will follow our lead,” the President stated.

Ajuri therefore noted that President Tinubu rejected all memos brought by members of FEC seeking the purchase of traditional petrol-dependent vehicles, encouraging the affected FEC members to go back and diligently seek value-driven procurements of CNG-compliant vehicles.

The President remains committed to effectively harnessing the nation’s gas potential, alleviating the burden of high transportation costs on the masses while enhancing the standard of living of all Nigerians,” the statement added.

Advisors Reports’ check showed that President Tinubu launched the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) in October 2023 to support the implementation of a policy aimed at harnessing Nigeria’s gas potential.

The initiative plans to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refueling sites across 18 states, to promote CNG as a cheaper and cleaner alternative fuel across Nigeria

Our correspondent confirmed that Rivers, Abuja, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun and Kaduna have already joined the CNG vehicle conversion program or purchased CNG buses as part of the P-CNGi initiative launched by the Federal Government.