By Nkechi Eze
In a significant boost to the Federal Government’s drive toward cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has donated 35 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG).
The official handover ceremony was held on Monday, July 8, 2025, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, where the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, reaffirmed the company’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria’s transition to gas-based transportation. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with NNPC Ltd’s broader agenda of promoting CNG as a cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable fuel alternative.
“I am proud that NNPC Ltd is playing a pivotal role in driving the Federal Government’s gas agenda towards energy transition,” Ojulari stated. He also highlighted the company’s strides in gas supply, infrastructure development, distribution networks, and retail outlets.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who also addressed attendees at the ceremony, described the donation as a bold symbol of economic and environmental progress. “These buses represent more than just vehicles; they are instruments of economic relief, social equity, and environmental responsibility,” the Minister said. He further noted that the initiative directly reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at reducing transportation costs, cutting petrol dependency, and leveraging Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves for national benefit.
Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mumuni Dagazau, added that the adoption of CNG offers significant economic advantages, including decreased reliance on petrol and diesel, reduced operating costs, and stimulation of the local gas economy.
Also speaking at the event, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, noted that as momentum builds behind CNG commercialisation, NNPC Ltd remains firmly positioned to lead the transition.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the gesture is part of NNPC’s broader mission to shape an energy future that serves people, communities, and the planet responsibly.
Programme Coordinator and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, expressed gratitude to NNPC Ltd for its consistent partnership, describing the company as “a reliable ally” in the pursuit of sustainable transport solutions.
The handover of the 35 CNG buses marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s push for energy diversification, cleaner mobility, and long-term environmental stewardship.
