The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG/EV) in Kano, describing the programme as a strategic move to reduce transportation costs, strengthen energy security and stimulate economic growth across Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said the initiative marked the beginning of a more competitive and resilient Nigerian economy.
“Today we are gathered here not merely to attend another government programme launch, but we are witnessing the foundation for a more competitive, more resilient and more energy secure Nigeria,” he said.
He described Kano as the ideal location for the launch because of its long-standing reputation as a commercial and transportation hub in West Africa.
“For centuries, Kano has stood as one of Africa’s great commercial capitals. Long before modern economic theories were written, this city had already established itself as a centre of trade, enterprise and innovation,” he stated.
Hadejia said transportation remained central to the economy of Kano and Northern Nigeria, noting that rising transport costs were affecting food prices, manufacturing, logistics and the general wellbeing of Nigerians.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood that Nigeria could not continue to depend entirely on expensive traditional fuel systems while sitting on over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves,” he said.
According to him, the expansion of CNG and electric mobility was not just an energy policy but an economic strategy aimed at reducing costs and supporting long-term development.
He also praised the leadership of the Pi-CNG/EV initiative under Ismaeel Ahmed, saying the programme had rapidly gained momentum and attracted significant private sector investment.
“Companies such as Greenville LNG, Assad Energy, Rolling Energy, SU Energy, AY Shafa, Nipco and AA Rano are already investing billions of naira into gas infrastructure across Northern Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
The presidential representative further referenced the investment by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote in CNG-powered trucks.
“The largest CNG fleet in the world is Kano’s own Aliko Dangote, who recently commissioned 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, with plans to expand to 15,000 vehicles. This is expected to save the Dangote Group about N1.7 trillion annually in logistics costs,” he added.
He said the transition to gas-powered and electric mobility would also create opportunities for young Nigerians in technical training, engineering services and emerging clean-energy businesses.
“The future belongs to societies that prepare early for economic change. What we are witnessing today is Nigeria preparing for that future,” he noted.
In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, welcomed dignitaries and stakeholders to the event and described the initiative as timely.
“I want to use this medium to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this initiative. I must say this intervention comes timely, especially in the transportation sector,” the governor said.
He also commended Ismaeel Ahmed for his leadership of the Pi-CNG/EV initiative and reaffirmed Kano State’s commitment to supporting policies that would ease transportation challenges.
“Kano is the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria,” Yusuf stated.
Speaking during the event, Ismaeel Ahmed disclosed that President Tinubu personally tasked him with driving the alternative energy initiative across the country, particularly in Northern Nigeria where gas infrastructure remains limited.
He quoted the President as saying: “I will be remembered as the President that removed fuel subsidies, but I also want to be remembered as the President that brought an alternative that is sustainable and productive.”
Ahmed said the President rejected temporary relief measures in favour of long-term solutions.
“He said, ‘I don’t want to do shortcuts and give handouts of N10,000 or N20,000. How long will it last? I want to do something sustainable. So Pi-CNG is my signature project and I want it to succeed,’” Ahmed revealed.
The Pi-CNG/EV boss admitted he initially hesitated to accept the appointment because he lacked experience in the oil and gas sector.
“I told Mr President that I didn’t know anything about oil and gas, and he replied, ‘Well, Ismail, I’ve never been President either, but here I am doing the work. We all learn on the job,’” he said.
Ahmed disclosed that within eight months, the initiative had established five CNG stations and two LCNG stations, while deploying more than 40 vehicles and 200 tricycles.
“We are going to bring 5,000 more tricycles and 200 additional buses,” he announced.
He also revealed that the programme had already attracted over $2 billion in investments within two years.
During the event, government officials commissioned and inspected several clean mobility assets and infrastructure, including CNG-powered buses, tricycles and fueling stations as part of efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to alternative energy transportation.
