The federal executive council (FEC) says all new vehicles, generators or tricycles procured by the government and its agencies must be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), solar or electric.
This was one of the major decisions reached at the FEC meeting on Monday.
According to sources, the directive affected new requests by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the shipper’s council, an agency of the marine and blue economy.
The sources said customs and the shipper’s council had sought approval to buy several hundreds of operational vehicles powered by petrol.
According to sources, their requests were approved on the basis that the vehicles are powered by CNG.
Also, a request by the federal capital territory (FCT) to buy petrol generators was approved, however, the council insisted the generators must be powered by CNG or solar.
Likewise, the government also expects agencies to begin to convert petrol and diesel vehicles or generators to CNG.
On April 21, the presidency said it would launch the CNG initiative ahead of the first anniversary of Tinubu’s administration on May 29.
The presidency said the presidential CNG initiative (PCNGI) — in collaboration with the private sector –will deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites across 18 states before year-end.
Also, on July 31, 2023, Tinubu said his administration made provision to invest N100 billion between then and March 2024 to acquire 3,000 units of 20-seater buses powered by CNG.
Two months later, the federal government announced value-added tax (VAT) would be waived on CNG procured vehicles, with plans to waive duty on parts.
