By Johnson Babajide

Copyright tribuneonlineng

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG) of the Federal Government has attracted over \$980 million in investments into Nigeria.

Consequently, about 20,000 CNG-powered vehicles are already in operation, and over 315 conversion centres have been established across the states of the federation.

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemima Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this during the closing ceremony of a five-day specialised mechatronics training on the repair and maintenance of both Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, as well as motorcycles. The training, organised in collaboration with Simba Group, targeted youth and auto-technicians.

The event was held in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State, between Monday and Friday, 12 September 2025.

Osanipin maintained that the initiative was strategically designed to drive cost savings for citizens, create jobs, enhance energy security, and support environmental sustainability.

He explained that the programme was specially designed to equip auto-technicians with advanced skills in the repair and maintenance of modern vehicles, and to promote the widespread adoption of CNG vehicles, particularly within the mass transit sector.

According to him, the intensive training, which commenced on 8 September 2025 at the Auto 360 Workshop, successfully trained over 70 auto-technicians in the state, equipping them with both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical expertise necessary to service, troubleshoot, and maintain CNG and PMS tricycle systems.

He added: “Over the last few months, the Council organised similar training at our Automotive Training Centres (ATC) in Ekiti, Kano and Lagos States, in which over 180 technicians were trained, certified and empowered with tools.

“The Council is committed to sustaining this momentum, with plans to continue the same essential training in our ATCs across Osun, Borno, Adamawa, Sokoto, Yobe, and Ebonyi States. This nationwide initiative by the National Automotive Design and Development Council addresses the urgent need to close the automotive skills gap, enhance technical capacity, and create sustainable jobs and livelihoods for Nigerian youth and technicians.

“The timing of this training is both strategic and essential. Following the removal of the fuel subsidy, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG) with the aim of promoting the widespread adoption of CNG vehicles, particularly within the mass transit sector.”

The Director General explained that through collaboration with stakeholders, including Simba Group Nigeria, the Council had successfully trained over 15,000 technicians in the Mechatronics Programme for Tricycle and Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance.

“Currently, the Council has established 21 Automotive Training Centres across the six geopolitical zones with the purpose of fostering continuous skill development. Sixteen of these centres have been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and tools in line with global trends. These efforts align with one of the pillars of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which aims to strengthen skills development and support industrial growth,” he added.

The Regional Manager of Simba Group covering six states, Sameer Umdhyay, who provided a technical overview of the training programme, appreciated the Benue State Government and NADDC for their invaluable collaboration in making the training possible. He said the partnership reflected what could be achieved when government institutions, industry stakeholders, and communities work hand in hand for progress.

He maintained that equipping youths and technicians with modern knowledge in automotive technology, repair, and maintenance had not only enhanced employability but also strengthened the foundation of transportation and mobility in Benue State and beyond.

He noted that the training exposed participants to affordable CNG filling infrastructure, proper training of mechanics and drivers for safe usage, and policy support to encourage a gradual shift from petrol-driven to CNG-powered three-wheelers.

In his speech, the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, commended NADDC and Simba Group for imparting knowledge to youths and auto-technicians in the state, and appreciated their determination to embrace the future.

Governor Alia, who was represented by his deputy, Sam Odeh, noted that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, was advancing Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan through the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that central to this plan was gas — regarded as the bridging fuel that would power industries, transport networks, and households while fostering a cleaner and more sustainable economy.

He announced that, in line with his administration’s commitment to human capital development, the state would train 500 more youths in mechatronics and vehicle conversion from petrol to CNG.

“These artisans will establish conversion centres across the state, accelerating Benue’s transition to CNG-powered transport. This will drastically reduce transport costs and cushion the effects of subsidy removal on our people.

“Here in Benue, we are fully aligned with this national vision. Our administration has adopted the Energy Transition Plan as a key pillar of our industrialisation agenda. We are determined to harness our abundant natural resources to create jobs, build industries, and empower our people.

“Our strategy is centred on establishing industrial parks across all 23 Local Government Areas. A policy framework, led by the Benue Investment Promotion Agency, is underway to attract investments for these hubs.

“Even now, we have signed a PPP agreement for the National Food City Complex on 30,000 hectares of land in Ogyoma, Otukpo. More are coming. These parks will crowd in infrastructure, stimulate entrepreneurship, and drive productivity at the grassroots. But to succeed, they must be powered by energy that is reliable, affordable, and clean,” Alia said.

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