Buhari launches scheme to power vehicles by gas

• Preaches cleaner energy, targets two million jobs yearly

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, launched a programme that would enable no less than 40 per cent vehicles plying Nigerian roads to run on compressed natural gas.

By 2021, the country shall have converted a million cars to cushion impacts of petroleum subsidy removal, which government said, gulped trillions of naira yearly.

During the virtual launch of the National Gas Expansion Programme and National Auto- gas Roll- out Initiative at the State House, Abuja, Buhari, noted that the development would enable domestic utilisation of the country’s 203 trillion cubic feet ( TCF) of gas.

He stated: “Let me now express my deep appreciation to Nigerians for their patience, and Organised Labour for its maturity and patriotism, as we collectively navigate these global economic and other challenges.”

On the need for alternative, the President said: “It is no longer news that the vast natural gas resources, which Nigeria is endowed with, have hitherto been used suboptimally as a result of dearth of gas processing facilities and infrastructure connectivity for effective and optimal domestic utilisation. “As I mentioned above, with a proven reserve of about 203 trillion cubic feet ( TCF) and additional upside of 600 TCF ranking Nigeria as the ninth in the world currently, the need for domestic gas expansion and utilisation is apparent.”

He said the new development was not only going to ease the hardship arising from deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, but would also serve as a veritable medium to cleaner environment, job creation and catalyst for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Admitting that deregulation had exposed many to price volatilities in the global market, he urged attention to more affordable alternative energy sources.

The Nigerian leader, who also foresees investments, noted that the move would galvanise potential investors.

He said the new realities called for a paradigm shift from the conventional dependence on white products for vehicles and industrial use.