The Federal Government, through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), is set to launch the distribution of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to young individuals in the transportation sector throughout Nigeria, starting on October 1st, 2024.

This initiative seeks to provide 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to youth in the transportation industry as part of a strategy to mitigate increasing transportation expenses and to encourage more sustainable and affordable mobility solutions.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, PCNGi emphasized that this program is integral to the Tinubu administration’s comprehensive plan to improve the transportation sector by introducing cleaner and more economical alternatives.

The official announcement also indicated that the distribution will kick off in Abuja at 1:00 PM on October 1st, specifically at the Old Parade Ground in Area 11, Garki.

“The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) is providing 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to informal youth in the transportation sector, as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT administration’s commitment to lowering transportation costs for Nigerians,” the post stated.

In a previous statement issued on behalf of Michael Oluwagbemi, the PCNGi Program Director/Chief Executive, the distribution of these tricycles is characterized as a joint effort between PCNGi and the Ministry of Youths, aimed at offering young Nigerians a means of livelihood while promoting environmental and economic goals.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) introduced its Transport Fare Drop Programme in Abuja on Friday, with the objective of promoting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and more cost-effective fuel option while lowering transportation expenses.

As part of this initiative, an MOU was signed between PCNGi and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to transition vehicles operating on the Abuja-Itakpe Station to the Adavi route to CNG, aiming for a fare reduction of 30-40%.

Furthermore, it was announced that on Monday, September 30, PCNGi will formalize an agreement with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to implement the Nigerian Police CNG Conversion Programme, which will focus on training police cadets to oversee strategic CNG conversion centers established by the NPTF.

On Wednesday, October 2, PCNGi will also initiate the Kogi State Conversion Incentive Programme, which includes the distribution of CNG buses to the state’s mass transit authority for routes to Abuja, as well as the inauguration of three new CNG conversion facilities in Kogi.

The programme is set to extend to Ekiti State the following week, where CNG buses will be provided to the state’s mass transit system, along with the opening of four additional CNG conversion sites.