March 30, 2024. Moving towards sustainable practices, the Nigerian Army has announced the start of a pilot phase to convert 30 of its operational vehicles from gasoline to compressed natural gas (CNG). This is part of the broader Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) led by President Bola Tinubu, which aims to reduce dependence on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and adopt greener alternatives.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said this step is in line with the government’s policy on subsidies and represents the Army’s commitment to proactive environmental management. The conversion process will not only make the fleet greener, but is also expected to be profitable in the long term.
During the program to initiate the automatic change of the vehicle fleet, the Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by Major General Erema Akerejola, highlighted the importance of the Army’s participation in the PCNGI. He noted the extensive use of operational vehicles within the Army and the potential benefits of switching to CNG.
The initiative also includes training for 22 personnel on the conversion process, indicating the Army’s dedication to developing internal capabilities for this transition.
Senator Sa’id Ahmed Alkali, Minister of Transport, and Engineer Micheal Oluwagbemi, Project Coordinator of PCNGI, praised the progressive approach of the Nigerian Army. In this sense, they expressed confidence that the adoption of CNG would lead to greater operational efficiency and cost savings, setting a precedent for other institutions in the country.
