President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed Federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to patronize the technologies and products of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
This directive aims to support Made-in-Nigeria goods and reduce importation.
Represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu made the announcement while commissioning the NASENI-Portland Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering, and Training Centre in Utako, Abuja, on Friday, May 31, 2024.
Tinubu, who also serves as chairman of the NASENI Governing Board, emphasised the importance of the agency’s collaboration with private sector players in commercialising its products. He highlighted the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi), in which NASENI is actively involved, as a strategy to utilise Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and promote cleaner energy.
He further explained that CNG-powered transportation would reduce pressure on foreign exchange and save money for vehicle owners by converting fuel-emitting vehicles to CNG. The president also commended NASENI for its efforts in establishing a lithium ore processing plant in partnership with private sector collaborators, aiming to produce lithium batteries for electric vehicles.
In his welcome address, the executive vice-chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu described the NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre as a state-of-the-art facility. The centre, a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited, can convert 15 cars every two hours, translating to an output of 2,700 conversions per month.
“Mr. President, by our calculations, if Nigeria is able to have 10 of this kind of facility in each of the 36 States and the FCT, we will be able to convert every vehicle in the country to CNG within one year,” Halilu said. He also requested the president’s approval to convert all vehicles in the State House fleet to CNG to showcase NASENI’s capabilities. Additionally, Halilu offered to carry out CNG conversions for every ministry, department and agency of the Federal Government at a cost.
Halilu also addressed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), offering NASENI’s CNG generators to contractors for test-running the lighting project on Bill Clinton Drive (the highway leading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport). He encouraged them to purchase NASENI’s streetlights for the project.
The event saw goodwill messages from various dignitaries, including the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Epkerikpo Ekpo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Uche Nnaji; Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi and chairman of the House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofik Ajilesoro.
A statement by NASENI’s director of information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan noted that the NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre is equipped with the latest technology and staffed by trained professionals to ensure efficient and safe conversions. The centre aims to build local capacity and foster the domestication of CNG technology.
The centre offers comprehensive training programs for technicians, engineers, and other stakeholders, promoting the adoption of green energy solutions across the nation. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce vehicular emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment.
