President Tinubu Orders MDAs to Use NASENI Technologies and Products
By Gloria Sarauniya Usman
ABUJA, NIGERIA May 31, 2024 -
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to patronise technologies and products developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and reduce importation.
The President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, made the declaration during the commissioning of the NASENI-Portland Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering, and Training Centre in Utako, Abuja, on May 31, 2024.
President Tinubu, who also chairs the NASENI Governing Board, commended the Agency for collaborating with private sector players to commercialise its products.
He highlighted the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) as a way to tap into Nigeria's abundant gas resources and achieve cleaner energy.
The use of CNG-powered transportation will reduce pressure on foreign exchange, save vehicle owners money, and convert fuel-emitting vehicles to CNG, according to the President. He also praised NASENI for working with private sector collaborators to establish a lithium ore processing plant to produce lithium batteries for electric vehicles.
The NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre, a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited, is a state-of-the-art facility for converting fossil fuel vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative. The facility can convert 15 cars every two hours, translating into an output of 2,700 conversions every month.
According to NASENI's Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, if Nigeria has 10 such facilities in each state and the FCT, it can convert every vehicle in the country to CNG within a year. He urged the President to approve NASENI's proposal to convert all State House fleet vehicles to CNG and offer CNG conversions to every Ministry, Department, and Agency of the Federal Government at a cost.
Goodwill messages were received from various ministers and chairmen of committees, including the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Epkerikpo Ekpo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi; and Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofik Ajilesoro.
The NASENI initiative aims to build local capacity and domestication of CNG technology, offering comprehensive training programs for technicians, engineers, and other stakeholders.
This will foster domestication of expertise in CNG systems and promote the adoption of green energy solutions across the nation, significantly reducing vehicular emissions and contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Additionally, the adoption of CNG will offer economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and creating new job opportunities and technical expertise in Nigeria's green energy sector.
The Press Release was e-Signed by
Olusegun Ayeoyenikan
Director, Information, NASENI
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