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Gov Lawal
By SHUAIB SADIQ
The Federal Government on Wednesday expressed readiness to partner with the Zamfara Government to establish a major hub for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) mobility for the North-West region.
Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Mr. Ismael Ahmed, made the disclosure when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Gov. Dauda Lawal in Gusau, Zamfara.
Ahmed described the engagement as an important milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to promote alternative fuels and sustainable energy systems across the country.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, following the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, had focused not merely on providing temporary relief to Nigerians, but on creating a sustainable pathway for the country to gradually reduce its dependence on fossil fuels: “particularly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Diesel.”
According to him, fluctuations in global oil prices have directly affected Nigeria as well as the global economy.
This, he said, has had consequences in different parts of the world, including conflicts and tensions in the Middle East, that directly affected the prices of petroleum products in Nigeria.
The Pi-CNG & EV chairman said the federal government therefore identified CNG and Electric Vehicles as some of the available technologies capable of providing Nigerians with cleaner, more affordable, and sustainable transportation alternatives.
He said Nigeria possesses about 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, stressing that the country should begin to see itself as a gas-rich nation with oil, rather than an oil-rich nation with gas resources.
Ahmed said Northern Nigeria had abundant sunlight, which provides a significant opportunity for the region to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and other renewable energy technologies.
The chairman commended Gov. Dauda Lawal for what he described as his foresight in embracing clean mobility.
He said his team members were conveyed from the airport to the Zamfara Government House in a brand-new electric vehicle procured by the state government.
Ahmed added that the delegation also saw a fleet of about 50 branded electric Zamfara taxis at the Government House, describing the development as an indication that Zamfara was already moving ahead in the adoption of electric mobility.
The chairman said Zamfara’s achievements in the sector had placed the state ahead of several other states in the North-West.
“The Federal Government delegation is essentially in the state to support and expand initiatives that Gov. Lawal has already commenced,” the chairman said.
He said President Tinubu had specifically expressed concern over the cost of transportation, goods and services, as well as the movement of agricultural produce, particularly across Northern Nigeria.
Ahmed said the President had directed that attention be given to major transportation corridors linking Kano, Funtua, Zaria, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Sokoto, with a view to reducing the cost of moving people, farm produce, and goods across the region.
He noted that Zamfara, with a population of about 5.8 million people and 14 local government areas, is predominantly an agricultural state and therefore required affordable and efficient transportation to support agricultural production and commerce.
The chairman commended Gov. Lawal for providing about 50 buses to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) through a financing arrangement, as well as procuring 100 electric taxis for the state.
He said the federal government was prepared to support Zamfara with financing, infrastructure, and technical assistance to transform the state into a major clean mobility hub for the North-West and the wider Sahel region.
Ahmed said Zamfara’s strategic location gave it the potential to serve not only the North-West but also markets extending towards neighbouring countries.
He expressed the hope that the emerging development would help change the narrative about Zamfara, traditionally associated with insecurity and mining-related challenges, towards one centred on investment, innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
“Among the proposals presented to the state government was the need to establish a State Clean Mobility Steering Committee, with the state expected to nominate a focal person, such as a commissioner responsible for transport, energy, or a related sector, to coordinate activities with the federal government,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that the federal government was also working towards accessing about $500 million to finance the acquisition of buses, tractors, and other clean mobility equipment.
He explained that states could access the financing through arrangements that would allow them to pay over a period of two to four years, thereby reducing the immediate financial burden on state governments.
He urged the Zamfara government to identify and develop CNG infrastructure along priority transportation corridors and allocate land for the establishment of a Green Mobility Hub in the state.
The proposed hub, he said, would include CNG facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and vehicle conversion centres, to be developed in partnership with the federal government and the private sector.
Ahmed expressed optimism that the facility could be completed and commissioned within a short period, with the President, Vice President, relevant ministers, and the state governor expected to participate in its commissioning.
He also encouraged the state government to lead by example by converting its vehicle fleet to CNG, particularly heavy-duty buses, while continuing the deployment of electric vehicles for other categories of transportation.
The federal government, he noted, would support incentive programmes, financing arrangements, and technical training to facilitate the conversion of vehicles and accelerate the adoption of clean mobility in Zamfara.
He further proposed the inclusion of clean mobility in the state’s investment forums and conferences, assuring that the federal government would participate whenever invited.
Earlier, Gov. Lawal reiterated his administration’s commitment to investing in clean energy, healthcare, education, and transportation as part of efforts to improve the living conditions of residents and reposition the state for sustainable development.
Gov. Lawal said his administration had deliberately invested substantial resources in clean energy because of its importance in addressing present-day challenges and making life easier for the people.
He disclosed that the state had renovated more than 850 schools, “with the renovated schools being powered by clean energy.”
According to him, the government had also renovated about 15 general hospitals, with the facilities similarly operating on clean energy.
The governor cited the Ahmad Yarima Bakura Hospital as an example, describing it as a completely off-grid facility with sufficient energy capacity to potentially supply electricity to neighbouring areas.
Lawal added that the Zamfara Government House would become completely off-grid within the next two weeks as part of the administration’s clean energy initiative.
Lawal further disclosed that the state’s airport was being developed to become the first airport in the country to operate entirely on solar energy.
On transportation, the governor said the state government had commenced test-running CNG-powered buses to provide affordable transportation for students from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
He also confirmed the deployment of 100 electric taxis, which he said, would soon commence full operations across the state.
The governor said other investors and partners were also introducing electric tricycles, with some already operating within Gusau and on interstate routes.
He explained that the government’s clean energy policy was not limited to transportation, but also covered agriculture, noting that pumping machines used for irrigation across the state were now powered by solar energy.
Gov. Lawal also highlighted the street-lighting initiative of his administration, saying that major streets in Gusau had been fully illuminated.
He said the impact of the lighting was so significant that residents could conduct businesses and other activities at night with improved visibility and security.
The governor said the initiatives demonstrated that Zamfara was making deliberate efforts to change its development narrative and position itself among leading states in the adoption of clean energy.
He described Zamfara as a state with significant commercial and economic potential, recalling its historical position as one of the major commercial centres in Northern Nigeria.
Lawal expressed confidence that with the pace of development being recorded in the state, Zamfara would soon surpass several states, including Kano, in key areas of development and economic activity.
He thanked the Pi-CNG & EV chairman and his delegation for visiting the state and expressed optimism that the engagement would result in additional support, investments, and technical expertise for Zamfara.
The governor also highlighted the administration’s deliberate policy of empowering young professionals and giving them opportunities to participate in governance and development, saying the approach was aimed at mentoring a new generation of leaders.
On healthcare, Gov. Lawal disclosed that the state was constructing a modern diagnostic centre equipped with advanced medical technology, which he said would be completed within the next few months.
He said one of his major objectives was to ensure that residents of Zamfara would no longer need to travel outside the state to seek quality medical treatment.
Lawal further stated that Zamfara had become one of the highest-paying states for medical professionals in the country, including remuneration that he said was higher than that of the federal government.
He added that the state was providing comprehensive facilities in its hospitals, including hostels and other supporting infrastructure, while nursing schools and schools of health technology were also being equipped to strengthen human resource capacity in the health sector.
The governor said the administration was already receiving applications from medical professionals interested in working in Zamfara as a result of the improvements being made in the state’s health facilities.
He also highlighted the state’s growing investment opportunities, particularly in the mining and mineral-processing sector.
Lawal disclosed that a $200 million lithium processing plant had recently been launched in the state, describing it as a major investment that reflected Zamfara’s mineral potential.
He said Zamfara possesses significant quantities of high-grade lithium and was also pursuing opportunities in gold and other mineral resources.
The governor described Zamfara as increasingly open for investment, stressing that the combination of infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare reforms, agricultural development, and mineral resources would create a stronger foundation for economic growth.
He expressed optimism that the continued implementation of the administration’s development agenda would attract more investors, create employment opportunities, and fundamentally change the perception of Zamfara to the world. (NAN)
