NNPC Hands Over 35 CNG Buses to Presidential Initiative

By Patrick Idowu

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has handed over 35 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PICNG), reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to clean energy transition.

The official handover ceremony took place on Monday at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, where the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bashir Ojulari, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting the Federal Government’s gas utilization agenda.

Ojulari stated that the gesture aligns with NNPC Ltd’s drive to promote CNG as a cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable fuel alternative.

He also noted that the company has made considerable progress in gas supply, infrastructure development, distribution, and retail.

“I am proud that NNPC Ltd is playing a pivotal role in driving the Federal Government’s gas agenda toward energy transition,” Ojulari said in a statement issued by NNPC Ltd in Abuja.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the CNG buses as more than just vehicles, calling them “instruments of economic relief, social equity, and environmental responsibility.”

“They signal a future where the ordinary Nigerian can commute safely, affordably, and efficiently,” he added.

Ekpo emphasized that the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a bold move to reduce transportation costs, decrease reliance on petrol, and maximize the country’s vast natural gas reserves.

In his remarks, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mumuni Dagazau, highlighted the economic benefits of adopting CNG as an alternative fuel, noting its potential to reduce dependence on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), cut fuel costs, and stimulate growth in the local gas sector.

The Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said the initiative demonstrates NNPC Ltd’s commitment to shaping a new energy future that serves people, communities, and the planet.

The Programme Coordinator and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, commended NNPC Ltd for its consistent support, describing the company as a dependable partner since the inception of the initiative.