Military Receives 84 CNG-powered Vehicles to Enhance Operations
The Nigerian military has taken a major step toward reducing its fuel costs and carbon footprint with the delivery of 84 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles under a federal government clean energy initiative.
The vehicles which includes 20 buses, 50 pickup vans, and 14 executive transport units were handed over to the Defence Headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja through a partnership with the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi).
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who inaugurated the vehicles, said the military’s embrace of CNG technology signals a shift toward sustainability and energy efficiency in national security operations.
“This is not just about fuel. It’s about repositioning Nigeria as a global player in clean energy, and our military is now setting the pace,” he said.
Matawalle described the move as a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s push for environmentally responsible governance, adding that it was only logical to tap into Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves.
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He said while the transition would reduce fuel costs and emissions, it also showed innovation in military logistics. He called on the Armed Forces to develop supporting infrastructure like CNG refuelling stations at military bases and to train technicians to manage the conversion systems.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the new vehicles represent more than a logistics upgrade. He noted that the military is committed to embracing forward-thinking solutions that improve efficiency and reflect global best practices.
“We are not only modernising operations, but also supporting national goals on energy security and environmental protection,” Musa said.
Coordinator of the P-CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, revealed that the Nigerian Army was the first to pilot the project. Starting with 30 vehicles, the programme has since grown to over 100 conversions, with plans underway to convert over 5,000 military and personnel vehicles.
“From day one, the armed forces have led the public sector in adopting CNG. They’ve been at the front,” Oluwagbemi said.
The initiative is part of a wider federal plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, save costs, and encourage cleaner energy across government operations. Experts say the military’s early adoption may inspire similar shifts in other sectors.
