The Federal Government has announced plans to set up Compressed Natural Gas conversion centers and refueling stations in 20 federal universities as part of efforts to promote clean and affordable energy solutions.
The initiative, led by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund in collaboration with Femadec Energy, aims to integrate sustainable energy sources into Nigeria’s education sector.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, met with vice-chancellors and key stakeholders on Monday to finalize the implementation strategy. Representatives from MDGIF and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative were also present at the meeting.
Alausa emphasized that the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push for sustainable energy adoption. He described the initiative as a crucial step toward reducing transportation costs for students and lecturers while promoting cleaner energy use in universities.
“The programme seeks to utilize Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources to ease transport expenses and lower carbon emissions,” he said.
According to Alausa, six universities are expected to have fully operational CNG facilities by May 29, 2025.
A spokesperson for Femadec Energy reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing cost-effective and eco-friendly transportation solutions through the initiative.
Nigeria has made significant progress in expanding its CNG infrastructure in recent years. The number of CNG conversion centers has grown from seven in 2023 to over 170 by December 2024, with plans to establish 500 centers by 2025.
