FG Launches Project SPROUT to Deploy CNG Buses and Tricycles in Nigerian Universities
Abuja, Nigeria – May 30, 2025 – The Federal Government of Nigeria launched Project CNG-SPROUT (Compressed Natural Gas – Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation) on May 29, 2025, at the FEMADEC AutoGas Centre, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, marking a significant step in President Bola Tinubu’s energy transition plan. The initiative, spearheaded by the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) in partnership with the Midstream & Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) and FEMADEC, aims to deploy CNG-powered buses and tricycles across 20 federal universities nationwide to reduce transportation costs and promote cleaner energy on campuses.
The project’s launch, flagged off by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, began with the University of Abuja, where CNG buses were commissioned to serve students. Ekpo described the initiative as a response to Nigeria’s economic challenges, stating, “These buses are vehicles of hope, relief, and national progress.” The rollout includes 10 universities in the North and 10 in the South, with plans to establish CNG refueling infrastructure on each campus. MDGIF Managing Director Oluwole Adama praised the initiative’s rapid execution, noting, “The rollout of CNG infrastructure in 20 universities is no small feat, given the time constraints.”
Project SPROUT aligns with the broader Presidential CNG Initiative, launched in October 2023 following the fuel subsidy removal, which allocated N100 billion to procure 5,500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), 100 electric buses, and 20,000 conversion kits, alongside developing refueling stations nationwide. PCNGI CEO Michael Oluwagbemi emphasized that the initiative fulfills Tinubu’s pledge to ease transport costs, stating, “This launch delivers on the promise to bring affordable, cleaner transport to tertiary institutions.” The program also aims to curb food inflation by reducing transportation costs for agricultural produce.
The initiative has garnered positive sentiment on X, with @PCNGInitiative announcing, “Today, we officially launched Project CNG SPROUT… kicking off our mission to build CNG infrastructure,” and @kaysax_official noting, “Transportation will definitely get better and cheaper with this initiative.” However, concerns persist about infrastructure scalability, with some X users questioning the adequacy of refueling stations, echoing calls from cooperative leaders like Olujimi Sobayo for more nationwide CNG stations.
CNG’s advantages include lower costs (up to 50% cheaper than petrol) and reduced emissions, with vehicles producing less carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Despite these benefits, challenges such as avian flu impacting poultry transport costs and the need for robust refueling networks could affect implementation. Project SPROUT is a key part of Nigeria’s goal to deploy one million CNG vehicles by 2027, supported by private sector investments exceeding $50 million in refueling and conversion infrastructure.
