The Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, has declared that Nigeria’s clean mobility revolution is gathering momentum, describing the transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) as a game-changer that will slash transport costs, strengthen energy security and unlock massive economic opportunities.
Delivering the keynote address at the 3rd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), Ahmed said clean mobility has moved beyond being a future ambition to become a major pillar of the Tinubu administration’s transport and energy agenda.
Speaking on the theme, “Nigeria’s Clean Mobility Future: The EV and CNG Journey Under the Bola Tinubu Administration,” he said the Presidential Initiative was established to coordinate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner transportation by developing a robust ecosystem for both CNG and electric vehicles.
Ahmed explained that the Initiative goes beyond promoting alternative fuels to driving investment, expanding refuelling and charging infrastructure, supporting vehicle conversion, strengthening local manufacturing, building technical capacity and boosting public confidence in clean mobility.
According to him, the programme was conceived after the removal of fuel subsidy to provide Nigerians with a more affordable transport alternative by harnessing the country’s vast natural gas resources.
He said the Initiative has worked closely with regulators, investors, vehicle manufacturers, conversion companies, financial institutions, development partners, transport unions and state governments to build a sustainable clean mobility industry rather than pursue isolated interventions.
Highlighting achievements recorded within the last two years, Ahmed disclosed that Nigeria’s CNG ecosystem has witnessed remarkable expansion, with certified conversion centres increasing across the country, while public and private investments have accelerated the rollout of refuelling infrastructure.
He added that vehicle conversions have continued to rise as commercial transport operators and private motorists embrace the cost-saving advantages of CNG, while thousands of technicians have been trained to ensure safe and professional conversion services.
Ahmed also revealed that strategic partnerships with financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers, energy companies and state governments are helping to improve access to financing, attract infrastructure investments and accelerate nationwide adoption of clean mobility solutions.
He announced that the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System would soon strengthen transparency, safety standards, regulatory oversight and consumer confidence across the conversion industry.
While noting the rapid growth of CNG adoption, Ahmed stressed that electric mobility remains an equally important priority, with government already engaging manufacturers, investors and development partners on EV deployment, charging infrastructure, local assembly and policy reforms.
Despite the progress, he identified infrastructure expansion, consumer financing, local manufacturing, skills development, research, innovation and standardisation as areas requiring greater investment and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Ahmed described the media as a critical partner in the transition, urging members of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association to intensify public enlightenment on the economic benefits, investment opportunities, safety standards and emerging technologies driving clean mobility.
“The transition to clean mobility is as much an information challenge as it is an infrastructure challenge. Public understanding influences public acceptance, while market confidence is built on accurate, timely and responsible information,” he said.
He pledged stronger engagement with journalists through regular technical briefings, industry dialogues and improved access to reliable information to combat misinformation and encourage informed public discourse.
Looking ahead, Ahmed said the Presidential Initiative would continue expanding CNG infrastructure nationwide, strengthen the regulatory framework, deepen financing partnerships, promote local manufacturing and vehicle conversion, and work with stakeholders to build a commercially viable clean mobility ecosystem.
He maintained that the true measure of success would not be the number of conversion centres or refuelling stations established, but how effectively clean mobility reduces transport costs, creates jobs, stimulates industrial growth, enhances energy security and improves the lives of Nigerians.
Ahmed commended NAJA for sustaining a platform that promotes constructive dialogue on the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry, noting that closer collaboration between government, industry and the media would be crucial to delivering the country’s clean mobility vision.
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