The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has unveiled a new e-portal to support Nigerian youths interested in operating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles across the country. The initiative, part of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PiCNG), aims to empower young Nigerians in the commercial transport sector.
Speaking at a press conference, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, highlighted the launch of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles, which began on October 1, 2024, as part of the government’s commitment to reducing transport costs and improving economic well-being.
“Through the portal, youths from across Nigeria can sign up to be matched with aggregators or owners working directly with the PiCNG programme while starting the process of becoming owners themselves. This aligns with the aspiration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who wants all government programmes and initiatives to offer equal opportunities to everyone,” Olawande said.
Interested youths can register on the portals www.youthcng.ng or www.pci.gov.ng/tricycle to participate in the programme.
The Project Director of PiCNG, Michael Oluwagbemi, emphasized the environmental and economic benefits of transitioning to CNG, noting that it marks a shift from costly petrol subsidies, while positioning CNG as the “future of Nigeria.”
