FG unveils 40 electric buses in push for clean energy

FILE: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo

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The Federal Government on Thursday said it would continue to support initiatives that align with Nigeria’s clean-energy transition, as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, PiCNG, commissioned 40 electric-powered buses in Abuja.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the rollout as “another bold step in Nigeria’s journey towards cleaner, smarter and more sustainable mobility.”

Ekpo, who was represented by his aide, Abel Igheghe, said the project reflects the government’s wider shift toward cleaner fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and the emerging electric-mobility ecosystem.

“This gathering is not just a product showcase; it is a statement of intent,” he said. “We will continue to support initiatives that align with our clean-energy aspirations. Electric vehicles are an important part of the future, and they will create new industries, new jobs and new opportunities for Nigerian innovators.”

Ekpo added that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources would sustain policies to deepen gas utilisation, encourage technology transfer and ensure that clean mobility offers “affordable transport options for ordinary citizens.”

Ekpo, who spoke at the unveiling of PiCNG’s electric-vehicle project and strategic roadmap, said the event was more than a product display, describing it as “a statement of intent” that demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to adopting innovative technologies and aligning with global advances in clean energy.

He noted that the rollout of the electric buses represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s clean-mobility transition. While commending PiCNG’s leadership, he said the initiative underscores the critical role of private-sector partners in delivering the ambitions of the national energy-transition agenda.

According to him, the government is pursuing a deliberate shift from dependence on traditional fuels to cleaner alternatives such as CNG, LPG, LNG and electric mobility, under President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to move Nigeria “from gas to prosperity.” He said the ministry’s focus remains on promoting gas as a transition fuel capable of powering industries, transportation and households.

Ekpo added that the electric-vehicle revolution goes beyond cutting carbon emissions, explaining that it also presents opportunities to create new industries, jobs, investments and technology-driven enterprises. With the right policies, he said, Nigeria could emerge as a hub for electric-vehicle assembly, battery innovation, charging-infrastructure deployment and local-content development.

He noted, “Today’s gathering is not just a product showcase, it is a statement of intent. It represents Nigeria’s commitment to embracing innovative technologies and aligning our nation with global advancement in clean energy and transportation.

“The unveiling of PICNG electric vehicles project and strategic roadmap is without question a significant milestone in Nigeria’s clean mobility transition. I congratulate PICNG for its pioneering work and commend its leadership for demonstrating that the private sector remains an indispensable partner in delivering the ambition of our national energy transition.”

As part of his vision, we are driving a deliberate shift from reliance on traditional fuels to cleaner alternatives like CNG, LPG, LNG and now electric mobility. Under the brother mandate of transforming Nigeria from gas to prosperity. In the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, our focus has been clear to promote gas as a transition fuel for Nigeria and to expand its role in empowering industries, transportation and household.

The minister assured Nigerians that the EV initiative would not be limited to a ceremony, noting that the newly unveiled buses would be deployed within the week and rolled out across several states to provide cheaper transport.

He added that PiCNG’s intervention would help ensure more affordable mobility during the Christmas festive season.

The minister said, “The EV revolution is not only about reducing carbon emissions, but it is also about creating new industries, new jobs, new investments and new opportunities for Nigerian innovators. With the right policies, Nigeria can become a major hub for EV assembly, battery innovation, charging infrastructure deployment and local content development. This is why collaboration like the one we celebrate today between government innovators and investors, and advocacy groups such as the PICNG, is essential.

“I want to state that this is an initiative. PICNG has made electric buses come to stay, and I want to assure the public that this bus is not just for a showcase. It will be deployed within the week, and you start seeing it all over in most of the states for cheaper transportation.

“So the assurance is that during this Christmas festive period, you have cheap transportation courtesy of PICNG.”

The Executive Chairman of PiCNG, Ismael Ahmed, said the commissioning of the 40 electric buses marks a turning point in Nigeria’s goal of delivering cheaper and cleaner transportation.

“This is clean energy. This is affordable energy. This is available energy,” he said. “What matters is the ordinary Nigerian, the person in Kano, Zanya or Daura whose transportation costs must come down.”

Ahmed said PiCNG would power charging stations with CNG to address concerns about the electricity supply.

“We have sunlight, we have gas, and we will use them to deliver cheaper and cleaner mobility,” he added.

He assured that the buses would be deployed this week across several states to offer cheaper transport during the festive season.

PiCNG reaffirmed its partnership with private investors to expand EV charging and CNG infrastructure along major transport corridors nationwide. The Initiative also announced the launch of Pi-CNG 2.0, described as the next phase of Nigeria’s clean-mobility transition.

Ahmed said the programme, originally conceived to cushion the impact of fuel-subsidy removal, had evolved into a catalyst for energy transformation.

“From the onset, the mandate was clear: provide relief from rising transport costs, deepen gas utilisation, stimulate jobs and catalyse economic growth,” he said.

According to him, PiCNG had recorded significant milestones in 20 months, including: activation of the CNG value chain in 28 states, over 58 refuelling stations established, deployment of thousands of CNG buses and tricycles, training of more than 6,000 Nigerians, including military personnel and women entrepreneurs, and more than $2bn in investment commitments

Other achievements include progress toward local manufacturing of CNG equipment at the Ajaokuta Industrial Park, strengthened CNG supply across the northern corridor and a partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission to expand stations in the region.

He confirmed that the Kano State CNG launch would hold in the first quarter of 2026, with President Bola Tinubu expected to attend.

Ahmed said the new phase of PiCNG’s operations would ramp up nationwide access to CNG and electric-mobility solutions. Beginning January 2026, five LCNG and daughter stations will be commissioned in Kano before scaling to Kaduna, Gombe, Maiduguri and Katsina.

He said structured financing and price stability would ensure affordability, while public-awareness campaigns and safety standards would enhance nationwide acceptance.

“Our mission is unwavering: to build a resilient, multi-energy transport ecosystem that lowers transport costs and positions Nigeria as a continental leader in clean mobility,” Ahmed said.

Nigeria’s clean-mobility push is a key component of the Energy Transition Plan, which targets net-zero emissions by 2060. Central to this agenda is President Tinubu’s “gas-to-prosperity” strategy, which promotes gas as a transition fuel while encouraging investments in electric-vehicle technology.

The PiCNG programme, launched in 2023, is one of the administration’s flagship responses to subsidy removal, aimed at slashing transport costs, which account for up to a quarter of household expenditure, and reducing dependence on petrol.

The commissioning of 40 electric buses marks the first major public rollout under the government’s EV roadmap. It also signals Nigeria’s intent to compete in Africa’s emerging electric-mobility market, driven by rising fuel costs, climate commitments and the need for domestic energy security.

A business, investment, infrastructure and property correspondent currently with The PUNCH, Aina is a media professional with over three years experience

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