In a definitive move to de-risk Nigeria’s transportation sector from the volatility of global oil prices, the Federal Government on Thursday officially launched the Northern Corridor of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicle (EV) programme. The ceremony, held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, marks a critical milestone in the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), an ambitious project designed to revolutionize how goods and people move across the country’s northern heartland.
A Strategic Economic Intervention
Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the initiative as more than just a climate policy. “This is a strategic economic intervention,” Hadejia stated to an audience of governors, transport unions, and private sector investors. “Transportation costs remain the single largest driver of food inflation in Nigeria. By diversifying our energy mix away from expensive petrol and diesel, we are directly attacking the root causes of economic instability for the average Nigerian.”
The launch follows a March 2026 directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate the rollout of 100,000 conversion kits nationwide to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices—a surge exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The Northern Corridor is designed to create a continuous chain of refueling and charging points linking Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano, with future extensions planned for Maiduguri and Sokoto.
The Numbers Behind the Green Shift
Ismaeel Ahmed, the Executive Chairman and CEO of Pi-CNG & EV, revealed that the initiative has moved past its pilot phase into a full-scale industrial rollout. According to Ahmed, the programme has already attracted over $2 billion in investment commitments from local and international partners.
Key achievements highlighted during the launch include:
-
Conversion Capacity: Over 300 certified conversion partners have been onboarded nationwide, with 41 active centers located in Kano State alone.
-
Infrastructure Growth: 75 CNG refueling stations are now operational across 20 states, with a mandate to reach all 36 states by the end of 2026.
-
Human Capital: More than 7,000 Nigerians have been trained as specialized auto-technicians to handle the new technology, creating a pipeline for high-skill jobs in the North.
“We are guided by three priorities: Affordability, Availability, and Acceptability,” Ahmed noted. “The goal is to ensure that a commercial driver in Kano can convert his vehicle to gas or switch to an electric tricycle without facing financial ruin.”
Solar-Powered E-Mobility
One of the most innovative aspects of the Northern Corridor is the integration of solar-powered charging hubs. Recognizing the challenges of the national grid, Pi-CNG & EV is collaborating with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deploy off-grid solar charging infrastructure. This ensures that even in remote parts of the corridor, electric vehicles can remain operational, bridging the gap between urban centers and rural agricultural hubs.
The event featured live demonstrations of locally assembled electric tricycles and CNG-powered buses, signaling a shift toward domestic manufacturing. With several international automobile manufacturers expressing interest in establishing assembly plants in Nigeria, the Northern Corridor is being positioned as a burgeoning industrial zone for the next generation of African mobility.
