​Tinubu administration introduces CNG transport palliative for Nigerian university students

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a university-focused transport palliative to ease high commuting costs for students through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, according to a report by Peoples Gazette.

​Speaking during an awareness campaign at Bayero University, Kano, the Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, explained that the initiative—tagged Compressed Natural Gas-Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (Project SPROUT)—aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to foster affordable, clean mobility nationwide.

​“Transportation is an important part of everyday life for students and staff of universities, and when the cost of transportation is high, it affects everyone,” Ahmed said. “This is one of the reasons why Project SPROUT was developed, in alignment with Mr President’s mandate.”

​Implemented alongside FEMADEC Energy and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, the project establishes CNG refuelling hubs, conversion centres, and deploys CNG-powered buses and tricycles across campuses. The initiative will also integrate CNG conversion training into university curricula to equip undergraduates with technical skills. BUK’s Dean of Student Affairs, Mukhtar Ibrahim-Bunza, commended the intervention, assuring that the university would maximize the infrastructure to support student welfare.