The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has taken delivery of 84 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles as part of a bold move to enhance operational efficiency and drive Nigeria’s transition to clean energy.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has taken delivery of 84 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles as part of a bold move to enhance operational efficiency and drive Nigeria’s transition to clean energy.
The fleet, commissioned on Tuesday in Abuja, includes 20 buses, 50 Jet Lander pickup vehicles, and 14 Jet Mover Executive buses. The conversion project was executed in partnership with the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) and inaugurated by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Matawalle described the initiative as a strategic leap toward energy sustainability, economic efficiency, and environmental resilience.
”This milestone is a direct fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s vision to reposition Nigeria as a global player in clean energy adoption,” the minister stated. “It demonstrates our readiness to place the public sector—especially our armed forces—at the forefront of climate-conscious governance.”
Highlighting the country’s vast natural gas resources, Matawalle said it is only logical and forward-thinking to harness them for military logistics.
”By transitioning a portion of the Armed Forces’ vehicles to CNG, we not only reduce operational fuel costs but also contribute significantly to national efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet global environmental targets,” he said.
He praised the military for spearheading the public sector’s shift to cleaner energy and stressed the need to establish supporting infrastructure like CNG refueling stations across military bases. He also called for training programs to equip personnel with the technical know-how to sustain the initiative.
”The transition must be systematic and long-term. The Armed Forces must integrate sustainability into their logistics operations and procurement plans,” he said.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, hailed the initiative as a reflection of the Armed Forces’ transformation agenda.
”This transition underscores our commitment to strengthening military infrastructure, boosting operational efficiency, and aligning with global best practices,” Musa said.
He added that the initiative would enhance operational effectiveness while also supporting national development goals.
Coordinator of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, commended the Armed Forces for being early adopters of CNG technology.
”The Nigerian Army was the first to pilot this initiative, beginning with the conversion of 30 vehicles, which has since expanded to 100,” he said. “We’re rolling out training and conversion programs aimed at transitioning over 5,000 military vehicles to CNG.”
The commissioning marks a significant step in the nation’s clean energy drive, positioning the military as a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition journey.