By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG) has attracted over $980 million in investments, with 20,000 CNG-powered vehicles already deployed and 315 conversion centres operational nationwide, the federal government has disclosed.
Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, made this known in Makurdi at the close of a five-day specialised training for auto-technicians on vehicle repair and maintenance, organised by NADDC in partnership with Simba Group.
Osanipin said the Pi-CNG programme was launched in response to subsidy removal to cut transport costs, create jobs, and promote cleaner energy.
He noted that over 70 technicians in Benue State have just been trained in automotive mechatronics, joining more than 15,000 already trained nationwide.
“The Council has established 21 Automotive Training Centres across the country, 16 of which are fully equipped with modern tools to build local capacity for the transition to CNG-powered transport,” he said.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, commended the initiative and announced that Benue State will train 500 youths in vehicle conversion to CNG and mechatronics.
He added that artisans from the programme would set up conversion centres across the state to cut transport costs and drive industrial growth.
The Pi-CNG initiative is a flagship of the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, aimed at positioning gas as a bridging fuel to power transport, industries, and households while supporting environmental sustainability.
