By Patrick Idowu
The Federal Government has announced plans to adopt Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), technology to power military and industrial vehicles in a move to modernise its defence fleet and promote clean energy.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this known during a visit to UROVESA, a Spanish manufacturer of military and industrial vehicles.
He led a high-level delegation to explore potential collaboration on CNG-powered solutions for Nigeria’s defence and industrial sectors.
Accompanying Tuggar were Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ekperikpe Ekpo, Presidential CNG Initiative representative Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, Engr. Henry Oki, and Special Assistant for Gas Business and Investment to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas).
During discussions with UROVESA executives, Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing trade relationship with Spain, noting that the European nation imported Nigerian crude oil worth $3.64 billion in 2023.
He praised UROVESA’s expertise in producing armoured, tactical, and logistical vehicles, expressing Nigeria’s keen interest in CNG-powered models.
The minister also underscored the business-friendly reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for clean energy investments.
According to Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Alkasim AbdulKadir, the talks set the stage for a strategic partnership that could drive innovation and economic growth while advancing Nigeria’s transition to greener and more cost-effective energy solutions.
