Nigeria has officially deployed its first fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles for military use, signaling a new direction in its clean energy strategy.

The fleet includes 20 buses, 50 pickup trucks, and 14 executive transport vehicles, unveiled at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja. This rollout is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader initiative to reduce reliance on petrol and diesel by adopting cleaner and more cost-effective fuel alternatives.

CNG is produced by compressing natural gas to a small portion of its usual volume, resulting in significantly lower emissions while maintaining fuel efficiency similar to traditional engines. It is also adaptable across a wide range of vehicle types.

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, said the project is designed to reduce fuel costs, lower emissions, and modernize military operations. He described the shift as a step toward making the armed forces more sustainable and innovative.

He also emphasized the importance of training personnel to handle CNG systems and the need to install refueling stations at key military facilities to ensure the project’s long-term success.

The launch comes at a time of escalating violence across the country. Nigeria continues to battle insurgents and criminal gangs, including a recent ISWAP attack that killed 11 civilians at a displacement camp near the Niger border. In June, another ambush left more than 20 soldiers dead at a central Nigerian base.