By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has hinted that the federal government’s drive to shift from the use of polluting fuels to environmentally friendly natural gas is best for Nigeria’s sustainable transportation sector in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Mahmoud stated this at the 2nd Annual Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conference and World Sustainable Transport Day commemoration held at the National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja.
Mahmoud further stated that the shift to Compressed Natural Gas was not merely a technical upgrade, but a strategic investment driven by the need for national survival and economic transformation.
She disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, under Barrister Nyesom Wike, is setting the pace by re-engineering Abuja’s transport system for efficiency, sustainability, and convenience.
“The FCT Administration is committed to expanding refueling infrastructure and enacting policies that encourage alternative fuels while discouraging high-emission transport practices,” she stressed.
The minister urged stakeholders across the private sector, technical fields, financing, and transport operators to key into government’s commitment, adding that Nigeria’s future depends on swift and collective action.
She stated that the conference is a platform to achieve national unity in building a cost-effective, low-emission transport system fueled by Nigeria’s natural resources.
Dr. Mahmoud who was represented by the Special Assistant on Technical Matters, Tpl, Micheal Bawa expressed confidence that decisions taken at the conference would secure a cleaner Nigeria for future generations.
The minister also underscored the role of FCT leadership in Nigeria’s sustainable transport agenda, which aligns closely with federal government priorities for environmental and economic progress.
Earlier, the MD/CEO Automotive Gas Nigeria Services Limited (Autogas Nigeria), Hajiya Maryam Salihu Ibrahim, said that Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its energy transition journey.
Ibrahim revealed that the establishment of the
Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) was not merely a response to global climate demands but
a strategic economic reform aimed at reducing fuel costs, improving energy security, and driving inclusive growth in the country.
She applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for midwifing the Presidential CNG Initiative to drive CNG revolution for the growth of the Nigerian economy and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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