Lawmakers Commend NASENI’s Drive for Cleaner Energy Solutions
By Patience Ikpeme
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has praised the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for its role in promoting affordable and cleaner energy solutions through a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and training center.
The facility, a partnership with Portland Gas, includes a refill station in Kubwa, Abuja.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Speaker, represented by Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, described the initiative as timely and impactful. “Energy transitions are never just about technology, they are about the quality of life for our people.
We must commend the leadership of NASENI for making life easier for Nigerian citizens,” he said. The Speaker encouraged Nigerians to embrace the transition to CNG, drawing comparisons to countries like Argentina, Pakistan, and Iran that have successfully converted millions of vehicles. He said Nigeria has the potential to lead Africa in this effort.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, spoke about the importance of public-private partnerships.
“The NASENI–Portland partnership is a clear example of how the private sector plays a vital role in driving our nation’s economic growth and development,” she said.
Verheijen added that the government’s role is to act as a “catalyst, unlocking private sector expertise and capital to deliver meaningful results for the Nigerian people.” She called the pace of progress set by NASENI under the leadership of Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu a model for other agencies.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the new facility is part of the agency’s commitment to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a diversified and sustainable economy.
“Our plan is ambitious: to replicate these facilities across all 36 states and the FCT, making it possible to convert every vehicle in Nigeria to CNG in the coming years,” he said. Mr. Halilu explained that the goal is to bring CNG technology closer to the people, break monopolies to improve service, and reduce queues for users.
He listed the benefits of CNG, including lower fuel costs, cleaner air, better engine performance, stronger energy security, and sustainable jobs. Mr. Halilu noted that over the past year, NASENI has trained 30 Nigerian engineers from across the country in CNG conversion and clean energy technologies, who will now help to spread this innovation nationwide.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, also praised the initiative for providing an affordable energy solution for transportation. Other government agencies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPR), also congratulated NASENI and Portland on their partnership.
Mr. Olujimi Mohammed, Managing Director of Portland Gas Ltd, thanked the government for its support and expressed his satisfaction with the partnership. He said he believes that with CNG, Nigerians will be able to spend less on transportation and other necessities.
