Abuja: The Federal Government has inaugurated a transport scheme known as ‘Project CNG-SPROUT’, an initiative aimed at promoting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation in all Nigerian universities. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced the commencement of the project’s pilot phase at the FEMADEC AutoGas Centre, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, previously known as UniAbuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the project is the first of 20 planned projects to be implemented across universities in the country, with an additional five set to be launched in June. The initiative seeks to enhance mobility and reduce transportation costs for students and lecturers by establishing CNG ecosystems, donating CNG-powered buses and tricycles, and offering subsidized conversion services for lecturers’ vehicles.
This initiative, part of the Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (CNG-SPROUT) Project, aims to deploy CNG buses, tricycles, conversion centers, and refueling infrastructure to university campuses nationwide. Ekpo emphasized the necessity of mitigating the impact of high transportation costs on vulnerable populations, including students.
Ekpo highlighted that further incentives related to CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refueling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain would be unveiled in the coming months. He noted President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to prioritizing energy affordability, security, and environmental responsibility, and described the commissioning as a demonstration of that commitment.
Through the Presidential Compressed Gas Initiative (P-CNGI), the government aims to mitigate the effects of recent subsidy reforms while laying the foundation for a modern, gas-driven transport economy. Ekpo praised FEMADEC Energy for their leadership in realizing this project, acknowledging their partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), which exemplifies successful public-private sector collaboration for national development.
The minister acknowledged the MDGIF’s role as a steadfast partner in actualizing Nigeria’s Decade of Gas vision, through catalytic funding and support for infrastructure projects benefiting Nigerians. He also commended the collaborative efforts of the P-CNGI, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transportation, university administrators, and private sector partners in making the project a reality.
Ekpo reiterated the importance of addressing students’ needs, challenges, and aspirations, emphasizing the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure affordable transport, clean energy, and innovations remain accessible to students. He stated that the Federal Government would continue to advance the Decade of Gas agenda by expanding similar initiatives to other public institutions and commercial sectors.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed support for the project, noting that it would enable staff and students to convert and refill their vehicles with CNG for affordable transportation. He praised recent government reforms and programs aimed at revitalizing education in universities nationwide.
Prof. Patricia Lar, Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, expressed enthusiasm for the project, commending the Federal Government and project facilitators for providing five 18-seater buses and numerous tricycles for the pilot scheme. She highlighted the initiative’s potential to alleviate transportation challenges faced by students and lecturers.
The MDGIF, housed within the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), is a fund established to enhance gas infrastructure and utilization. The CNG-SPROUT project is being implemented through the collaboration of the MDGIF, P-CNGI, and FEMADEC Energy.