Army Embraces CNG To Lower Operating Cost

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has said the Nigerian Army is embracing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to lower operating cost.

He stated this on Thursday while commissioning the Ultramodern Multipurpose Auto Care Service and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Centre by Luftreiber Automobile.

A statement by the Nigerian Army Spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the Centre, which is located in the Jahi District of the Federal Capital Territory, will provide a variety of services to its customers, ranging from car maintenance, car service, spray paint, body armouring service, window glass fortification, car wraps, and CNG conversion for vehicles.

General Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army (NA) is part of the pilot CNG conversion project in his remarks.

He stated that the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) team has assisted the NA in converting the first 30 vehicles to CNG. In comparison, the PI-CNG is converting another 70 cars.

The COAS stated that the NA understands that the Presidential CNG Initiative is a component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s palliative intervention aimed at lowering transportation costs for the populace by powering mass transit and industries with cheaper, cleaner, safer, and more reliable locally produced Natural Gas.

“Therefore, with CNG, the NA is lowering its operating cost substantially, compared to running our vehicles on other fuels,” he said.

Speaking further, Gen Lagbaja stated that the centre will promote CNG use in Abuja and provide jobs and skills to unemployed young Nigerians.

He assured that the CNG is safe, easy to install, durable, cost-effective, and reliable because the NA has tested it and is ready to establish its conversion centres to handle the conversion of sensitive operational vehicles.

He commended Luftreiber Automobile for achieving the milestone in its business endeavour.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the centre, Mr Junaid Raza, disclosed that the centre was established out of a clear understanding of the challenges that many vehicle owners in Nigeria face daily.

He clarified that the company had identified the need for a reliable, comprehensive solution that addresses the diverse automotive needs of the populace.

Raza added that the CNG conversion centre will help address high fuel costs and scarcity issues and provide an environmentally friendly energy solution.