President Bola Tinubu wants Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt technologies and products from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods and reduce importation.

The President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, issued the directive while inaugurating the NASENI-Portland Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering, and Training Centre in Utako, Abuja, on Friday, May 31, 2024, according to a statement made available to Technology Times by NASENI.

As the Chairman of NASENI’s Governing Board, Tinubu acknowledged the agency’s collaboration with private sector entities in commercialising its products.

He highlighted the significance of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi), which NASENI has embraced, as a means to leverage Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and achieve cleaner energy solutions.

Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, said the new centre can convert 15 cars every two hours, totaling 2,700 conversions per month. With 10 similar facilities in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he reckons that Nigeria could convert every vehicle to CNG within a year.

The NASENI CEO also appealed to President Tinubu for approval to convert all vehicles in the State House fleet to CNG, showcasing NASENI’s capabilities. Additionally, he offered to conduct CNG conversions for all MDAs of the Federal Government at a cost-effective rate.

Furthermore, Halilu extended an offer to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), proposing the use of NASENI’s CNG generators for contractors to test-run the lighting project on Bill Clinton Drive to encourage the adoption of NASENI’s streetlights for the project.