In the operation of 15 converted compressed natural gas vehicles, the Nigerian Army has trained about eleven officers.
The Commander, Corps of Supply and Transport, Maj. Gen. A.A. Adeyinka, revealed this on Thursday at Bonny Cantonment of the Nigerian Army, Victoria Island.
He said the transformation of the vehicles from petrol and diesel engines to CNG-powered engines would improve the operational efficiency of the force.
Adeyinka, who represented Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, at the event, stated that President Tinubu made this ambition to reduce the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
He further said on Tuesday, the army had the first stage of the event in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where the COAS was also represented.
He said, “We are on the second leg of the start of our journey. The first part that was launched in Abuja was the stage of the conversion of the 15 vehicles to CNG compliance. Eleven of our colleagues are undergoing training, comprising the Corps of Supply and Transport as well as the Corps of Mechanical Engineers. At our Lagos centre, we will equally be converting 15 vehicles and having 11 personnel (trained) during the conversion.
“The projects are just the first step in the long journey which the Nigerian Army has availed itself the opportunity of being assisted by the presidential initiative, to ensure that not only the operational efficiency is improved, but also that we are seen to be in compliance with all efforts to ensure that we run our business in a manner that aligns with the global environmental trends.”
He added that the army would ensure that the initiative by President Tinubu “sees the light of the day.”
The Project Director, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi. Handed over some of the vehicles to the Army at the Bonny camp.
Michael Oluwagbemi, expressed gratitude to the Army for taking the lead in the initiative by becoming the first national institution to take on the task of converting their fleets in line with the presidential initiative of energy transition in the transport sector.
He stated, “For us at the P-CNGi, it was a noble move to work with the Nigerian Army as they seek to move Nigeria forward. The president recognizes the most important need of the nation which is security. Energy security being the overall security of the nation must consider three parameters – availability, affordability and accessibility. In any of these three factors, gas is above PMS and diesel in the Nigerian energy is needed. Gas is widely available in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
