Nigeria launches CNG transport initiative for university students

The Nigerian federal government has launched Project SPROUT, a Compressed Natural Gas – Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation initiative aimed at reducing travel costs for students and staff. Unveiled at Bayero University, Kano, the program is a partnership between the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), FEMADEC Energy, and MDGIF.

The initiative involves the phased deployment of CNG-powered buses and tricycles, the establishment of refueling stations, and the creation of vehicle conversion centers. Additionally, the program intends to integrate CNG conversion training into university curricula to provide students with technical skills.

However, the government's management of the ₦100 billion allocated to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative has faced scrutiny. While official figures claim over 120,000 vehicle conversions and the establishment of 400 conversion centers, critics have questioned the transparency of the spending. Records show approximately ₦76.3 billion was disbursed between November 2023 and June 2026 for various contracts, with Jet Systems Automobile Industries receiving roughly ₦18.5 billion for supplying bi-fuel buses.