The Federal Government has announced plans to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicle hubs in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State as part of efforts to expand clean energy transportation.

The Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Ismail Ahmed, disclosed this during a meeting with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the Government House in Katsina. Ahmed said the project would include CNG stations, electric vehicle hubs, conversion centres, and the training of 500 youths across the state to build technical capacity.

He added that the Federal Government plans to deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits to Katsina, alongside the distribution of CNG-powered tricycles and vehicles to improve transportation and accessibility.

According to him, the initiative is designed to boost logistics, create jobs, and enhance technical skills, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to its implementation.

Ahmed stressed the need for Nigeria to embrace CNG and electric vehicles in response to rising global energy costs, describing the transition as critical to sustainable development. In his response, Governor Radda said the state government has already procured intercity buses, electric tricycles, and motorcycles, while also initiating the conversion of vehicles to CNG and LNG.

He noted that the initiative is already reducing transportation costs, improving incomes, and creating business opportunities, particularly for young people. Radda also disclosed that an additional CNG station is under construction to complement existing infrastructure and meet growing demand across the state.

He described Funtua as a strategic economic hub for the project and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing clean energy transportation in line with national development goals.

By Francis Sardauna