The Nigerian Armed Forces have officially unveiled s fleet of operational vehicles that would be running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), marking a significant energy shift that could encourage actions towards reduction of carbon emission in the country.
The initiative, according to the country’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, in a statement signed by his personal assistant on Media Ahmad Dan-Wudil on Tuesday sequel to the officially unveiling ceremony is a bold stride towards energy efficiency, and reduction in operational cost in the nation’s defence logistics.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja also reflects the country’s current government’s broader clean energy strategy being promoted by the President, Bola Tinubu.
Matawale said, “This is more than new vehicles. It’s a transformation of our military into a model of innovation and sustainability.”
According to him, resort to CNG powering initiative would reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions, and support Nigeria’s commitment to global climate targets.
He added that the new vehicles would bring long-term cost savings and environmental benefits, while also boosting morale and capability within the military.
Accompanied by top defence officials, including Permanent Secretary Ambassador Gabriel Aduda and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, the Minister toured the CNG fleet and even had a driving feel of one of the vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Minister has called for the rapid establishment of CNG refuelling stations across military formations to ensure continuous operation of the clean energy fleet, stressing the importance of building technical capacity among military personnel to maintain and operate the CNG vehicles effectively.
