The Armed Forces Nigeria has been commended for embracing Compressed Natural Gas, CNG initiative for the seamless integration of sustainability and sustainable energy solutions into logistic operations and procurement.
The Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle made this known during the Commissioning of CNG Vehicles in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital
The Minister for State said that “they must make sure that the overall energy efficiency is the same as the general energy efficiency, and that the most important thing is the energy efficiency”.
According to him, this milestone would not have been possible without the interagency cooperation and the robust support of our partners in the energy and automated industries.
“I commend the Defence Headquarters and the Chief of Defence Staff and the Services for embracing this initiative with a commendable enthusiasm.
I also appreciate the management of the presidential CIG initiative and all stakeholders whose commitment have translated this issue into reality”, he said.
He assured all that the Minister of Defence remains committed to championing policies that not only enhance our national security but also align with Nigeria’s economic, environmental, and developmental aspirations.
He noted that the Commissioning has made clear to committed to a mindset shift that embraces innovation, sustainability, and strategic foresight.
According to him, the Commission of the CNG is a direct fulfillment of Mr. President’s strategic vision to reposition Nigeria as a global player in clean energy adoption and to serve the public sector on the front line of climate-conscious governance.
He noted that the global energy landscape is on the brink of profound transformation as nations confront the dire challenges of climate change and energy security.
“There is an urgent call to adopt cleaner and more efficient alternatives to pursue where Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural gas reserves”, he added.
“It is therefore, both logical and visionary, that we harness these God-given resources to power our means of transportation”, he said.
He noted that by transitioning a position, a version of Armed Forces vehicles to CNGP, while reducing operational fuel costs, it can play and contribute to national effort.
He stressed that to cut down these greenhouse gas emissions and meet our global environmental objectives, we are also demonstrating innovation and adaptability in military logistics and mobility.
“I am glad that the military is leading this public sector transition to cleaner energy. Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to note that this transition is not a one-off event, but the beginning of a long-term systematic change”, he said.
“We must now focus on building supporting infrastructure, including CNG refueling stations across military bases and training technological personnel to maintain their system”, he added.
Earlier, the Nigerian Chief Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa says it is with great honor and a deep sense of accomplishment that he addressed them at the Commission on the Feats of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG Vehicles, that reflect the ongoing transformation, within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The defence said that “this underscores our commitment to strengthening military infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and embracing sustainable, forward-changing solutions, in line with global best practices”.
He noted that this milestone also reflects a bold step in our nation’s commitment to environmental sustainability, energy security, and technological innovation.
According to him, the introduction of the CNG, where it goes into the defense ecosystem, is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing fuel efficiency, and ensuring cost-effective service delivery.
He noted that unlike traditional fuel sources, CNG offers a cleaner, safer, and more affordable alternative, aligning our mobility strategy with global best practices and sustainable development.
Hence, this initiative is directly aligned with the Renewed Home Agenda of the President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which prioritizes innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainable development.
“In doing so, we enhance operational effectiveness while supporting national developmental goals”, he added.
He appreciated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Tinubu, CFR, for his commitment to security, and for his commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the environment.
The Chief of Defence Logistics, Major General Gabriel Ochigbano said “the removal of oil subsidies and the deregulation of the petroleum sector led to some increase in the cost of petroleum products and the response the Federal Government introduced the presidential initiative on compressing natural gas with the primary objective of transitioning Nigeria’s transportation and critical energy based from petrol to natural gas from petrol to cleaner and more affordable CNG as an alternative”.
According to him, in line with the national drive, the Defense Equator has been partnering closely with the Residential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas to key into the initiative.
“As part of this collaboration, our own Armed Forces electrical mechanical facility, engineer facility, which is located just behind the parade ground here, has been positioned to train personnel of the Armed Forces and other security agencies in CNG vehicle operation and conversion”, he said.
The Residential Initiative on CNG is also providing combat PPDs in the United States, Australia, and Central America.
He noted as part of this collaboration, our own Armed Forces electrical mechanical facility, engineering kits as part of the broader support package to ease this transition and we appreciate the effort in that direction as well.
“Now to push on the effect of rising fuel costs and our mobility, the federal government, through the instrumentality of the Ministry of Defence and in particular our guest of honour this afternoon, allocated a number of CNG powered vehicles to the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Between November 2024 and June this year, the GHQ has taken delivery of 20 units of CNG buses, 10 of which have been configured into ambulances funded by the CDS”, he said.
According to him, they have also taken delivery of 50 units of jet lander CNG pickup vehicles and just in less than two weeks, and also took delivery of another 14 units of jet mover executive CNG buses. All the vehicles are on parade this afternoon.
The Coordinator, PCNGI, Michael Olugbemi in his goodwill message said that they were glad that Armed Forces from very day one, when they started this initiative, have led from the front when it comes to the adoption of CNGs.
According to him, capacity development programs for the armed forces and others, Navy and Air Force, and they are finalizing a memorandum of understanding, not just around capacity development, but also sharing facilities, especially dotted stations, training centers, and conversion centers across the country.