Wednesday July 02, 2025
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), have taken delivery of 84 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicles to enhance operations.
The vehicles, comprising 20 buses, 50 Jet Lander pickups, and 14 Jet Mover Executive buses, were converted in collaboration with the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), The NATION reported.
Speaking yesterday at the vehicles’ inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Defence (State), Bello Matawalle, stated that the conversion aims to reduce operational fuel costs for the Armed Forces amid ongoing security challenges.
He said the initiative was a clear and strategic step in the journey of the nation towards energy sustainability, economic efficiency and environmental resilience, which was a “direct fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s strategic vision to reposition Nigeria as a global player in clean energy adoption and to serve the public sector on the front line of climate-conscious governance.”
The minister emphasized the urgent need to adopt cleaner and more efficient alternatives, leveraging Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves.
“It is therefore, both logical and visionary, that we harness these God-given resources to power our means of transportation,” he said.
“By transitioning a version of Armed Forces vehicles to CNGP, while reducing operational fuel costs, it can play and contribute to national effort.
“To cut down these greenhouse gas emissions and meet our global environmental objectives, we are also demonstrating innovation and adaptability in military logistics and mobility.”
Matawalle commended the military for leading the public sector transition to cleaner energy, noting that the transition was not a one-off event, but the beginning of a long-term systematic change.
“Therefore, the Armed Forces must plan for the seamless integration of sustainability and sustainable energy solutions into logistic operations and procurement.
“We must make sure that the overall energy efficiency is the same as the general energy efficiency, and that the most important thing is the energy efficiency,” the minister said.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, stated that the transition to CNG vehicles underscores the armed forces’ ongoing transformation, commitment to modernizing military infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and adopting sustainable solutions aligned with global best practices.
He added that this milestone marks a significant step toward environmental sustainability, energy security, and technological innovation.
The CDS said the introduction of the CNG into the defence ecosystem, was a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing fuel efficiency, and ensuring cost-effective service delivery.
“In doing so, we enhance operational effectiveness while supporting national developmental goals,” he said.
