The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has donated thirty-five (35) hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), in a move aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable fuel alternatives.
At a symbolic handover ceremony held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Monday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, underscored the company’s continued commitment to advancing the Federal Government’s gas utilisation agenda. He noted that the CNG initiative forms part of broader efforts to offer Nigerians a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol and diesel.
“This gesture reflects NNPC Ltd’s unwavering support for the government’s drive towards energy transition and sustainable transport solutions. We are making tangible progress in expanding gas supply, infrastructure development, and the distribution of retail outlets across the country,” Engr. Ojulari said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the deployment of the CNG buses as a transformative intervention that embodies economic relief, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion. According to him, the project directly aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, offering Nigerians affordable, reliable, and cleaner transportation.
“These are more than just buses—they represent our commitment to a greener future and economic empowerment for the average citizen,” the Minister declared.
In his remarks, Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mumuni Dagazau, highlighted the economic impact of shifting to CNG, noting that the move would significantly cut the nation’s dependence on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), ultimately yielding massive cost savings while bolstering the domestic gas value chain.
The Executive Vice President for Gas, Power & New Energy, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, affirmed that NNPC Ltd remains a driving force in Nigeria’s CNG commercialisation push and reiterated the company’s readiness to lead future developments in the sector.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond transportation, as it reflects a broader mission to engineer an inclusive and sustainable energy future that benefits communities, the environment, and future generations.
The Programme Coordinator and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, commended NNPC Ltd for its proactive role and unwavering support since the programme’s inception, describing the company as a critical and dependable partner in actualising the federal government’s clean energy goals.
The donation of the CNG buses marks another strategic milestone in Nigeria’s energy transition journey, aimed at easing the burden of transportation costs while promoting the country’s vast natural gas reserves as a viable energy solution.
