Tinubu Expands Clean Transport Drive, Adds Electric Vehicles to National CNG Initiative

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major expansion of Nigeria’s clean transportation programme, extending the scope of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to include electric vehicles.

Following the approval, the programme will now operate as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV), with a broader mandate to coordinate the country’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.

Under the new structure, the initiative will oversee both gas-powered and electric vehicle development nationwide. This includes continued investment in compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure such as refuelling stations, vehicle conversion systems, and supporting equipment. At the same time, it will drive the rollout of electric vehicles, charging networks, and related investments across the country.

The federal government maintains that natural gas remains a key component of Nigeria’s energy strategy, given its abundance and potential to reduce transportation costs, improve energy security, and limit reliance on foreign exchange. The addition of electric vehicles is expected to further strengthen efforts toward environmentally friendly and cost-efficient transportation.

President Tinubu has also instructed the leadership of the initiative to fast-track the distribution of vehicle conversion kits nationwide. The goal is to ensure that Nigerians can easily access and afford the technology needed to convert petrol-powered vehicles to run on CNG.

To support this, the initiative is expected to collaborate with CreditCorp Nigeria, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to develop flexible financing options that will make vehicle conversion more accessible to the public.

In addition, the President directed the rapid deployment of Mobile Refuelling Units (MRUs) to improve immediate access to CNG, while permanent infrastructure continues to expand across the country.

The move signals a stronger push by the administration to modernize Nigeria’s transport system, reduce fuel costs, and embrace cleaner energy alternatives.