The Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
The Nigerian Army has said that it will be converting 30 operational vehicles from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)/petrol-powered to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines in the pilot phase of the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government’s CNG Conversion Initiative.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
Nwachukwu said that the Nigerian Army has taken the proactive step to align with the Nigerian government’s policy on subsidy by participating in the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) programme inaugurated.
According to him, “In participating in this initiative, approximately 30 operational vehicles would undergo conversion from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)/ petrol-powered engines to environmentally friendly Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the pilot phase of the programme.”
The statement noted that while speaking at the Nigerian Army Fleet auto switch kick-off programme on Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who was represented by the Chief of Logistics (Army), Major General Erema Akerejola, emphasized the importance of the NA’s involvement in the initiative, citing the large fleet of operational vehicles and other requirements.
He added that 30 operational vehicles using PMS would be converted during the pilot phase and 22 personnel would be trained on the process of conversion.
He disclosed further that the NA is willing to cooperate maximally and expressed appreciation to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa'id Ahmed Alkali, disclosed that the objective of the programme was to promote the adoption of CNG as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative fuel for mobility within the Nigerian Army fleet.
The minister expressed optimism that the outcome will enhance cost effectiveness and boost operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
Also, the Project Co-ordinator, PCNGI, Engineer Micheal Oluwagbemi, described the Nigerian Army as one of the finest institutions in Nigeria.
Oluwagbemi added that the coming on board of the NA is a major milestone, considering its large fleet of operational vehicles, noting that Nigerian Army’s effort has demonstrated a 'forward-thinking approach showcasing the NA’s commitment to environmental responsibility and operational efficiency'.