The Nigerian Army has successfully converted no fewer than 30 of its operational vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
This move has put the organization as the first service in the Armed Forces of Nigeria to embrace the clamour for CNG powered automobiles.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja today, inaugurated the Ultramodern Multipurpose Auto Care Service and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Centre by Luftreiber Automobile.
The Centre, which is located in the Jahi District of the Federal Capital Territory will provide a variety of services to its customers ranging from car maintenance, car service, spray painting, body armouring service, window glass fortification, car wraps to CNG conversion for vehicles among others.
In his remarks during the commissioning of the Centre, the COAS noted with delight that the Nigerian Army (NA) is part of the pilot CNG conversion project. He stated that the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) team has assisted the NA to convert a first set of 30 vehicles to CNG, while another set of 70 vehicles are being converted by the PI-CNG.
The COAS noted that the army understands that the Presidential CNG Initiative is a component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s palliative intervention aimed at lowering transportation cost for the populace by powering mass transit and industries with cheaper, cleaner, safer and more reliable locally produced Natural Gas.
“Therefore, with CNG, the NA is lowering its operating cost substantially, compared to running our vehicles on other fuels,” he stressed.
General Lagbaja stated that the centre will promote CNG use in Abuja, as well as provide jobs and skills to unemployed young Nigerians. He assured that the CNG is safe, easy to install, durable, cost effective and reliable because the NA have tested it and ready to establish its own conversion centres to handle the conversion of sensitive operational vehicles.
While expressing the hope to collaborate with providers of similar services, the COAS congratulated Luftreiber Automobile for achieving the milestone in its business endeavour.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the centre, Mr Junaid Raza, disclosed that the centre was established out of a clear understanding of the challenges that many vehicle owners in Nigeria face daily. He clarified that the company had identified the need for a reliable, comprehensive solution that addresses the diverse automotive needs of the populace. Raza added that with the CNG conversion centre, it will contribute to addressing issues of high fuel cost and scarcity, as well as providing an environmentally friendly energy solution.
The company’s chairman, Dr Bright Ochefu, in his remark, guaranteed the company’s commitment to delivering quality services to its customers.
Present at the event were the former Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshall Oladayo Amao, the Commissioner of Police Federal Capital T
erritory Benneth Igwe, among other dignitaries.
The Federal Government is at the forefront of promoting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles through various initiatives. One of such initiative is the release of guidelines for converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG-powered vehicles, ensuring safety and driver confidence.
The government is also rolling out CNG buses. Additionally, a conversion incentive program is in the works to make CNG conversion more accessible.
