The Federal Government, through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), has launched the Northern Corridor of the CNG and electric vehicle programme in Kano as part of efforts to provide affordable transportation alternatives and stimulate economic growth.

Speaking at the launch, the vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Hassan Hadeja, said the Federal Government’s shift to compressed natural gas and electric vehicles was designed to cut transport costs, strengthen energy security and support long-term economic development.

“Transportation costs affect everything — food prices, manufacturing, logistics and ultimately the lives of ordinary Nigerians. This initiative is not just an energy policy; it is an economic strategy for national growth,” Hadeja said on behalf of the Vice President.

He noted that Kano was selected for the northern rollout because of its strategic commercial position, saying the state remains a major gateway for trade across northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Hadeja added that private firms, including Greenville LNG and NIPCO Gas, had already invested billions of naira in gas infrastructure, while the investment by Aliko Dangote in thousands of CNG-powered trucks highlighted the private sector’s confidence in the initiative.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, described the launch as a major intervention that would directly reduce transport costs and create opportunities for economic expansion in the state.

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“Kano has always been a centre of commerce and transportation. Any initiative that lowers transport costs will directly improve the lives of our people and strengthen our economy,” the governor said.

He said the state government had already partnered with investors to expand gas and electric mobility infrastructure and had facilitated access to land for companies willing to establish facilities in Kano.

The governor said the initiative would create jobs for young people through vehicle conversion, technical services, assembly and logistics, noting that many youths in the state were already receiving training in CNG-related skills.

On his part, Executive Chairman of the initiative, Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu specifically directed him to transform northern Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and ensure Kano became a major hub for the programme.

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“The President told me he does not want to be remembered only as the leader who removed fuel subsidy, but also as the President who brought a sustainable alternative for Nigerians,” Ahmed said.

He disclosed that within eight months, the initiative had established five daughter CNG stations and two LNG stations in Kano, while 40 vehicles and 200 tricycles had already been introduced under the programme.

Ahmed added that plans were underway to deploy 5,000 additional vehicles and 200 buses in Kano, while more investments were expected in the coming months.

He also praised Governor Yusuf for what he described as a visible transformation across the state.

“I am proud to be from Kano at this time. The transformation in roads and infrastructure in the last three years is clear for everyone to see,” Ahmed said.

SolaceBase reports that during the event, Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding with Lotus Bank for a multi-billion-naira financing arrangement to support businesses and operators across the CNG value chain, including transporters, investors and entrepreneurs.