Tinubu Expands PiCNG Mandate to Include Electric Vehicles in Clean Mobility Push

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to include electric vehicles, in a major policy shift aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable transportation.

With the new directive, the initiative will now operate as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PiCNG & EV), taking on a broader role in coordinating the country’s clean mobility strategy.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

Under the expanded mandate, PiCNG & EV will oversee the nationwide development and deployment of both compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. This includes scaling up CNG refuelling systems such as Mother and Daughter Stations, Integrated Refuelling Units, vehicle conversion programmes, and associated equipment.

The initiative will also spearhead the rollout of electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and related investments across the country, marking a significant step toward diversifying Nigeria’s transport energy mix.

According to the presidency, natural gas will remain a key component of Nigeria’s transportation strategy due to its cost-effectiveness and abundance, helping to reduce fuel expenses, enhance energy security, and conserve foreign exchange.

The inclusion of electric vehicles is expected to further strengthen the government’s commitment to promoting affordable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable mobility solutions.

As part of the new directive, President Tinubu has instructed the Executive Chairman of PiCNG & EV to immediately establish a coordinated framework for the rapid distribution of vehicle conversion kits nationwide. The President emphasised that the kits must be made accessible to Nigerians at affordable rates.

To support this goal, the initiative is expected to collaborate with CreditCorp Nigeria, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to design financing models that will ease access to vehicle conversion for citizens.

The President also directed the accelerated deployment of Mobile Refuelling Units (MRUs) to improve access to CNG, particularly as permanent infrastructure continues to expand across the country.

The move signals a renewed push by the federal government to modernise Nigeria’s transport sector while addressing energy efficiency and environmental concerns.