KEY POINTS
- Nigeria has unveiled 40 electric buses in Abuja under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas as part of its clean-mobility transition.
- The government says the rollout will provide cheaper festive-season transport and accelerate the shift toward gas-based and electric-vehicle solutions.
- PiCNG reports major progress in the CNG value chain, infrastructure, training and investment, with nationwide expansion planned from early 2026.
Nigeria has taken another visible step in its clean-mobility journey with the unveiling of 40 electric buses in Abuja, part of a broader national push to ease transport costs while steering the country toward a lower-carbon future.
The rollout, driven by the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, comes at a time when the government is scrambling to cushion the impact of subsidy removal and confront the rising pressure of urban transportation demands.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, the Minister of State for Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the deployment reflects a deliberate policy shift aimed at promoting cleaner fuels and accelerating Nigeria’s transition into an energy landscape shaped by gas and emerging electric-vehicle technologies.
Ekpo, represented by Abel Igheghe, described the initiative as more than a ceremonial launch, calling it a sign of government intent to support modern mobility that delivers both economic and environmental gains.
He explained that the adoption of electric vehicles stands alongside the country’s growing reliance on compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas, forming the backbone of President Bola Tinubu’s gas-to-prosperity agenda.
According to him, the combined approach is expected to strengthen energy security, develop new industries and provide cheaper transport options for ordinary citizens.
Electric buses mark early test of Nigeria’s clean-mobility ambitions
Ekpo emphasised that the buses would be deployed almost immediately, with units expected to appear across several states in the coming week. Authorities say the move is designed to ensure cheaper transport during the Christmas season, when travel costs traditionally spike. He stressed that the initiative would not end with the launch and that work was already under way to expand infrastructure, transfer technology and deepen local expertise.
The Executive Chairman of PiCNG, Ismael Ahmed, said the commissioning represents a turning point in Nigeria’s efforts to reshape its transport system. He described the electric buses as affordable, accessible and suitable for a country seeking to loosen its dependence on petrol. Ahmed added that charging stations would be powered by compressed natural gas to reduce pressure on the electricity grid, citing Nigeria’s abundance of gas and sunlight as strategic assets.
In outlining the progress so far, Ahmed said the initiative had recorded notable achievements in its 20-month run. These include the activation of a CNG value chain across 28 states, the establishment of more than 58 refuelling stations, deployment of thousands of CNG-powered buses and tricycles and the training of over 6,000 Nigerians, including military personnel and women entrepreneurs. Investment commitments now exceed $2 billion, with work ongoing to localise CNG equipment manufacturing at Ajaokuta Industrial Park.
Further expansion is planned from January 2026, starting with the commissioning of five LCNG and daughter stations in Kano before extending operations to Kaduna, Gombe, Maiduguri and Katsina. The programme, Ahmed said, has evolved from a subsidy-relief measure into a catalyst for energy transformation, designed to build a transport network that is cleaner, cheaper and more resilient.
For the government, the rollout aligns with its Energy Transition Plan, which targets net-zero emissions by 2060. Officials believe the combination of gas utilisation and electric mobility offers the most practical route for Nigeria to reduce emissions without stifling economic activity. The introduction of the 40 buses marks the first major demonstration of the country’s electric-vehicle roadmap and signals Nigeria’s intention to compete in Africa’s rapidly growing clean-mobility space.
