By Aminu Dalhatu
The Federal Government has expressed readiness to partner with the Zamfara State Government to transform the state into a major hub for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicle (EV) mobility in the Northwest.
Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), Ismael Ahmed, stated this when he led a delegation to meet with Governor Dauda Lawal at the Government House in Gusau.
Ahmed said the initiative was part of efforts to promote cleaner, affordable and sustainable transportation following the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023. He noted that Nigeria’s large gas reserves provide an opportunity to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel.
He also highlighted Northern Nigeria’s abundant sunlight as an opportunity to expand electric vehicles and renewable-energy technologies, while commending Zamfara for its investments in clean mobility, including 100 electric taxis and about 50 buses provided to the NURTW.
Ahmed said the Federal Government was ready to provide financing, infrastructure and technical support for a Green Mobility Hub in Zamfara, comprising CNG facilities, EV charging stations and vehicle-conversion centres.
He added that the government was working to access about $500 million to finance buses, tractors and other clean-mobility equipment. He urged Zamfara to develop CNG infrastructure along major transport corridors and provide land for the proposed hub.
Governor Dauda Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to clean energy, healthcare, education and transportation. He said more than 850 schools and about 15 general hospitals had been renovated and powered with clean energy.
Lawal disclosed that the state was test-running CNG buses for students, while 100 electric taxis would soon begin operations. He also said the Government House would become fully off-grid within two weeks, the state airport was being developed to run entirely on solar energy, and a $200 million lithium-processing plant had recently been launched in Zamfara.
Editing by Safiyah Abdulkadir
