The Federal Government has commenced the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses in Nigerian universities, beginning with the University of Abuja, as part of a broader strategy to lower transport costs and promote cleaner energy across tertiary institutions.
The initiative, known as CNG-SPROUT—which stands for Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation—marks the first phase of a planned nationwide deployment across 20 federal universities.
During the official launch, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the project was a timely response to both the country’s energy transition goals and current economic challenges.
“I hereby commission the Project CNG-Sprout buses for deployment to university campuses across the country. May they serve as vehicles not just of transport, but of hope, relief, and national progress,” he said.
Ekpo noted that the programme is designed to ease the financial burden on students while aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s broader energy and transportation reform agenda.
“As we navigate energy reforms and shift towards cleaner fuels, cushioning the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly students, remains a key national priority,” he added.
The implementation is being handled by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) in collaboration with FEMADEC Energy Limited. Ekpo commended FEMADEC for delivering the initial phase of deployment within schedule and hinted at more developments to come.
“In the coming months, we will be unveiling further incentives for CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refuelling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain. This is not just a transport solution, it is a jobs and industrialisation pathway,” he said.
MDGIF Managing Director, Oluwole Adama, praised the federal government’s leadership on the CNG initiative, highlighting policy moves such as Executive Order 40 and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGI).
“As we unveil the first four facilities, here in Abuja, we must congratulate FEMADEC for delivering under pressure and against tight timelines,” Adama said.
He reaffirmed MDGIF’s commitment to investing in projects that expand domestic gas usage and promote economic development through infrastructure.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive of the PCNGI, described the launch as a milestone in fulfilling President Tinubu’s post-inauguration promise to bring CNG-powered transport to Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“Through this partnership, we are delivering more than just buses and tricycles. We are delivering hope, innovation, and a future-forward solution to the mobility and energy challenges facing our academic communities,” Oluwagbemi stated.
He also emphasized the administration’s aim to create a sustainable ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic opportunity alongside cleaner transport.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, applauded the government’s education-focused initiatives—including free campus WiFi, solar power projects, and the CNG-SPROUT programme—as meaningful steps toward improving student welfare.
Alausa also acknowledged Minister Ekpo’s leadership in promoting gas-to-wealth projects and called for public patience as the various initiatives continue to develop.
University of Abuja’s acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Lar, welcomed the intervention, noting its potential to reduce transport costs for students and staff transitioning away from petrol and diesel to CNG.
According to Lar, the institution has already received five 18-seater buses and multiple CNG-powered tricycles.
