In a bid to ease access to cleaner energy for agricultural production and rural transport, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to deploy mobile Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations to underserved rural communities across Nigeria.
The proposal was detailed on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during an energy stakeholder panel session titled “Fuel That Works: Reliable Energy, Affordable Transport and Fair Prices for Every Household and Business” held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Michael Ahmed, Programme Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), disclosed that these mobile units are designed to bridge critical infrastructure gaps where constructing permanent refuelling stations remains financially unviable for private investors in the short term.
Beyond expanding transport options, the initiative responds directly to a shifting demand within rural economies. Engagements with state officials, particularly across northern agricultural belts, highlighted a growing need among farmers seeking to transition from expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper CNG-powered irrigation pumps, tractor equipment, and processing machinery to manage high operating expenses.
To accelerate the rollout, President Bola Tinubu has authorized the expansion of the nationwide gas distribution footprint, aligning with a national target to scale up refuelling points to 1,000 outlets. To clear operational hurdles, Pi-CNG also urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to streamline and fast-track licensing procedures for private investors entering the CNG supply chain.
This expansion builds on the Presidential CNG Initiative’s track record of driving over 143,000 vehicle conversions and attracting an estimated $2.6 billion in private and public investments into Nigeria’s domestic gas ecosystem.
