By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Nigeria’s Armed Forces have been commended for their strategic adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), technology as part of efforts to promote clean energy and enhance operational efficiency.
Speaking at the commissioning of newly acquired CNG-powered vehicles in Abuja, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, praised the Defence Headquarters and service chiefs for embracing the transition.
He said the move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to position Nigeria as a global leader in sustainable energy, noting that leveraging the country’s vast natural gas reserves for transportation is both timely and strategic.
“This initiative reflects a bold step toward energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and long-term cost savings in military logistics,” Matawalle stated.
He attributed the success to strong inter-agency collaboration and support from stakeholders in the energy and automotive sectors.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, described the commissioning as a milestone in the Armed Forces’ transformation agenda.
He reiterated the military’s commitment to infrastructure development and eco-friendly solutions in line with international best practices and the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, Major General Gabriel Ochigbano, Chief of Defence Logistics, explained that the removal of fuel subsidies made the shift to CNG both practical and necessary.
He said the Defence Headquarters, in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on CNG, equipped the Electrical Mechanical Engineer facility to train personnel in vehicle conversion and maintenance.
Since the collaboration began, the military has received dozens of CNG vehicles; buses, ambulances, and pickup trucks, between November 2024 and June 2025.
Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative on CNG, Michael Olugbemi, applauded the Armed Forces for leading by example and revealed that more capacity-building programs and resource support are underway across military facilities nationwide.
