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PCNGi: FG proposes 1m gas-powered vehicles by 2027 – project director

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1 year ago

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The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) says the Federal Government plans to put one million gas-powered vehicles on the road by 2027.

PCNGi’s Chief Executive Officer and Project Director, Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, made this known in a statement on Friday, after hosting the first-ever Compressed Natural Gas Stakeholders and Investors’ forum.

Oluwagbemi, who spoke on “A Comprehensive Overview of Nigeria’s CNG Ecosystem”, highlighted specific milestones among the bold vision and objectives of the CNG initiative.

“The Federal Government’s ambitious plan to put one million gas-powered vehicles on the road by 2027 means an average annual rate of 250,000 vehicle conversions per year.

“Other plans include the establishment of 40,000 auto gas conversion workshops and the creation of 750,000 jobs by 2027, across the emerging CNG value chain,” he said.

He said that the forum reinforced Nigeria’s suitability and commitment to transiting to a more efficient and sustainable gas-powered economy.

According to him, the high-power forum with the theme “Nigeria’s CNG Revolution: Harnessing Opportunities for a Sustainable Future”, featured presentations, panel discussions, exhibition and networking, among the attendees.

He said that the participants comprised key figures, critical stakeholders, indigenous and international experts in both public and private sectors, spanning across the energy, transportation, finance, and environment value chain.

“The occasion, among others, enabled stakeholders and investors the opportunity to assess the potentials of Nigeria’s CNG industry; evaluate the government’s ongoing efforts in advancing CNG as a sustainable fuel alternative for the nation.

“It was to also examine the regulatory framework vis-à-vis international best practices; and explore the economic opportunities that abound in the sub-sector in the committed transitioning to a gas-powered mobility system in the coming years,” he said.

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The PCNGi boss, who is an engineer, noted that given the characteristics of CNG and its benefits as a cheaper fuel, the strategic vision guiding the initiative was to alleviate the cost of living for Nigerians.

He said that CNG will significantly reduce the cost of transportation and ultimately improve the standard of living with a cleaner and safer fuel.

Oluwagbemi said: “In all of these, our strategic objectives are very clear: How do we reduce the cost of transportation for the common man? How do we make Nigeria’s gas work for him or her?

“How do we ensure that this gas working for Nigeria, gives Nigeria an economic advantage?”

Speaking further to the viability of the framework that was adopted by PCNGi for the implementation of the CNG initiative, Oluwagbemi stated the comprehensive approach covering the industry’s demand and supply sides.

He added: “We’re not just focusing on conversion centres but also incentivising investment on the supply side, taking an end-to-end approach.”

He mentioned specific collaborations with the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) and its partners to ensure sufficiency on the upstream side.

According to Oluwagbemi, the initiative is actively engaging the organised commercial transport operators’ network to integrate six million commercial vehicles into the CNG ecosystem.

Also, Toyin Subair, another member of the PCNGi, corroborated the economic advantage of Nigeria adopting CNG as an alternative fuel and reaffirmed that the transition is for the betterment of every Nigerian and the nation as an economy.

Subair said: “The good thing about this initiative is that we don’t need to subsidise or buy imported petrol.

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“We (Nigeria) have our own gas here, and the 6 million commercial vehicles (that will be converted) are ours.

“If we dive into this commercial opportunity, we’ll bring down the cost of transportation for the average Nigerians.”

On his part, Dr Armstrong Takang, CEO of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), and member of the PCNGi Steering Committee, emphasised the crucial aspect of training engineers to implement the programme successfully.

“A major part of this programme is to train as many engineers as possible who are qualified and certified.

“Then, monitor them in terms of their practice, specifically focusing on the safety of gas-powered vehicles.

“This commitment to training and safety will ensure a robust foundation for the expansion and sustainability of the CNG ecosystem in Nigeria,” Takang said.

Dr Mohammed El-Gawish, an International CNG Expert and one of the panelists, validated the potential and feasibility of Nigeria’s CNG initiative.

Drawing parallels with the success of a similar initiative in Egypt in just two and a half years, El-Gawish commended Nigeria’s plans and action points.

He said, “The roadmap or the action plans that are put in place are all very promising.”

Meanwhile, addressing concerns about converting vehicles to CNG, Oluwagbemi reassured Nigerians that costs would be minimal with emphasis on affordability.

According to him, this is to underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the CNG revolution are accessible to a broad spectrum of the population.

The PCNGI boss said that it would also to foster economic inclusivity and inspire a quicker and more comprehensive transition to a CNG-powered transportation landscape.

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“Other highlights of the forum included a virtual and physical exhibition; panel discussions on “Navigating the CNG Ecosystem in Nigeria; The Gas Potential; from Pricing to Availability; and International Perspectives on Regulatory Best Practices,”(NAN)

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National

Rev. Joseph Habap Elected Chairman Of Northern CAN

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9 hours ago

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February 26, 2025

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By Abubakar Yunusa

A The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has elected new executives, with Rev. Joseph Habap emerging as Chairman.

The new leadership will oversee the association’s affairs for the next five years.

In his acceptance speech during the unopposed election in Abuja, Rev. Habap reaffirmed his commitment to integrity, unity, and transparency.

He emphasised that his administration would not be driven by greed but by service to the Christian community and Nigeria as a whole.

“We will not allow greed to take over our conscience. We will always be proud of you, and we will make you proud. I want my children to grow up and be proud of their father, son, and son-in-law with integrity,” he said.

He stressed that CAN is an organisation for Christians, believers, Nigerian unity, and progress. He assured members that his leadership would foster dialogue and cooperation with churches across different denominations.

Rev. Habap acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing leadership and called on them to support the new administration. He urged Christian leaders to respect leadership transitions and avoid conflicts during handovers.

“This was not a coup. It was simply a day for them to leave. If we start respecting leadership transitions, we will set a good example for others. Unlike the political class that seeks tenure elongation, we will serve our term and leave,” he stated.

He also underscored the role of the church in promoting truth, peace, and unity, assuring that CAN would engage constructively with the government without hostility.

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“We will speak truth to power, but we are not enemies of the government. We want every administration to succeed, and we will contribute to that success by offering honest counsel,” he added.

Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), congratulated the new CAN leadership and reiterated the importance of religious harmony.

He highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting both Christian and Muslim communities.

“Mr. President is not a religious bigot. What he promised Muslims, he has also done for Christians. We have ensured that chairmen from all states can participate in pilgrimages free of charge. Nigeria remains one indivisible entity, and we must stay together,” he said.

He further urged prayers for the country’s leadership, adding that his office would continue to promote interfaith relations in line with the president’s vision.

Some of the newly elected officials include:Chairman: Rev. Joseph John Habap,Vice Chairman: Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson TEKAN (ECWA, FCT),Secretary: Bishop Mohammed Naga (PFN/CPFN, Borno State),Assistant Secretary: Ven. Tajudeen Azeeze Afolabi (OAIC Bloc, Zamfara State),
Treasurer: Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo (CSN Bloc, Plateau State), and Director, National Issues: Pastor Dr. Simon A.S Dolly (CCN Bloc, Nasarawa State)

The new leadership has pledged to strengthen CAN’s presence in Abuja, ensuring that Northern CAN is more visible at the national level.

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National

Senate accuses CBN of obstructing probe into N30trn Ways and Means

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12 hours ago

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February 26, 2025

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The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Ways and Means Advance has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of frustrating its investigation into the N30 trillion Ways and Means Advance and the Anchor Borrowers’ programme under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The committee made the accusation after receiving an interim report from its consultants at a meeting where they expressed frustration over the bank’s failure to provide crucial documents required for the probe. The committee, which was inaugurated a year ago by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stated that the delay has significantly stalled progress on the investigation.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Isah Jibrin, criticised the CBN for withholding vital information, despite multiple requests, revealing major infractions with the preliminary reports of the CBN.

He dismissed speculations that the Senate had been compromised or gone to sleep, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.

“The information we have here is not different from what we have heard all along. What we did was to hand over the documents to the consultants, and when the consultants made available to us this interim report, our intention was to hold onto the interim report on the final report,” he said.

“But we’ve been compelled to make available this interim report to the general public so that they know that we let them know where the problem is, and the problem is that the Central Bank of Nigeria has denied us consistently the documents that we need to complete this assignment. That is the truth.

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“It was at the CBN sometimes, I met Bala the deputy governor. And they promised, but nothing came out of it. The Clerk has been there several times. Nothing has come out of it. The consultants themselves even took it upon themselves to go with CBN directly, because we introduced them to CBN and nothing has come out of it.”

Although Hamisu Abdullahi, the Director of Banking Services at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), claimed that the apex bank had provided all the requested documents, Senator Isah Jibrin, the committee chairman, refuted the claim, insisting that the facts tell a different story.

The committee issued a strong warning to the CBN representatives, emphasizing the need for full disclosure of how the funds were utilized to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.

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National

Police begin recruitment medical screening

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12 hours ago

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February 26, 2025

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The Zonal Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, has announced the start of medical screening for constables as part of the police recruitment process.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), CSP Umma Ayuba, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Ayuba confirmed that the medical screening would begin on Wednesday

The police recruitment medical screening for constables will take place nationwide from Feb. 26 to March 12.

Prospective candidates from Lagos and Ogun States should note that the screening will be held at Police College, Ikeja.

Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal at https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to verify their status, date, time, and other requirements.

Applicants must appear in a clean white T-shirt and shorts, bringing their national identity card, medical examination slip, and all necessary documents.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, wished all candidates success in the screening process.

Fayoade also reminded candidates that the screening exercise is free of charge and warned them not to make any payments to anyone.

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