The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has introduced a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) e-portal for Nigerian youths working in the commercial transport sector, specifically those interested in operating CNG-powered tricycles.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during a press conference held on Monday.
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The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to empower young Nigerians through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PiCNG).
Earlier, on October 1, 2024, the government unveiled the distribution of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to youths, aiming to reduce transport costs and boost economic well-being.
In his remarks, the Project Director of PiCNG, Michael Oluwagbemi, highlighted the significance of the new portal in ensuring transparency.
“Through the portal, youths from across Nigeria can sign up to be matched with aggregators or owners working directly with the PiCNG programme while starting the process of becoming owners themselves,” he said.
Oluwagbemi further emphasized that the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to providing equal opportunities.
“Any young person willing and ready to take advantage of the programme can participate. This aligns with the aspiration of President Tinubu, who wants all government programmes and initiatives to offer equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of their background or status,” he added.
The Minister encouraged interested youths to visit www.youthcng.ng or www.pci.gov.ng/tricycle to register for the programme.
Representing the Programme Director, Tosin Coker, described CNG as the future of Nigeria, noting its importance in reducing dependency on petrol and diesel while promoting environmental sustainability.
“We are saving the nation in terms of the costs previously spent on petrol subsidies. This is not just a handout; it’s something deeper. The youth are our future, and it is up to all of us to do what we can for them,” Coker stated.
