Abuja: The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) has announced a new training program aimed at educating students from various Nigerian universities on the conversion and maintenance of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles. The program is part of the Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (CNG – SPROUT) Projects.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and Chief Executive of P-CNGI, revealed this initiative during the commissioning of the pilot phase of the CNG SPROUT project at the FEMADEC AutoGas Centre, located in Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, formerly known as UniAbuja. The event was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, among other dignitaries, and marked the beginning of a project that will extend to 20 university campuses across Nigeria.
The CNG – SPROUT Project is designed to introduce CNG-powered buses, tricycles, conversion centers, and refueling infrastructure to university campuses nationwide. This initiative aims to alleviate transportation costs and foster a more sustainable mode of transport for students and staff. Through practical training and technical facilitation, students will gain skills in converting and maintaining CNG vehicles, which is essential for Nigeria’s energy transition.
Oluwagbemi emphasized the importance of building a green-skilled workforce in Nigeria, noting that the P-CNGI is committed to providing CNG-powered transportation solutions to university campuses. These solutions are intended to be cleaner, more affordable, and sustainable, reducing the carbon footprint while easing financial burdens on the academic community.
The project represents a collaborative effort between the P-CNGI, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), and other partners. It goes beyond providing transportation by delivering hope and innovative solutions to mobility and energy challenges faced by academic communities, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.
The initiative also fulfills a promise made by President Tinubu in his first address after May 29, 2023, to deploy CNG buses, particularly on university campuses. Project SPROUT is seen as a symbol of how targeted interventions, powered by collaboration and guided by a clear vision, can create lasting impacts on the community.