By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Chairman of the Green Clean Energy and Gas Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Great, has said they intend to champion the growth and advancement of the government’s renewable energy programme by building capacity to drive the transition towards a cleaner and greener economy.

Great stated this at the graduation ceremony of 23 certified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion technicians in Abuja.

He also stated that alternative sources of energy were meant to address issues affecting millions of lives, stressing that “as we navigate the challenges of energy scarcity, we must recognise the transformative potential of alternative energy sources.”

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, yet a significant portion of our population still struggles to access reliable and affordable energy. According to recent statistics, over 90 million Nigerians live without electricity, and many more experience frequent power outages,” he said.

He said the energy crisis hinders economic growth, stifles innovation, and perpetuates poverty.

Also speaking, David Audu noted that they actively explored partnerships that made available a curriculum to ensure they carried the training to keep pace but to lead the way as another pioneering move for GCEGPAN to develop Nigeria’s first formal recertification programme for CNG technicians.

He argued that the diversification of alternative energy sources presents a pathway to a brighter, more sustainable future for Nigerians.

“By embracing renewable energy, we can provide affordable and reliable electricity to our people, stimulate economic growth, and protect our environment,” he said.

“Our efforts to create an energy-rich Nigeria where every citizen has access to the power they need to thrive. Together, we can transform our energy landscape and uplift the lives of millions.”

The Managing Director of ABG Oil and Gas, Mohammed Bawa, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to greener, cleaner energy, particularly through the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles.

Bawa commended the initiative for training Nigerians in the technicalities of converting petrol-driven vehicles to dual-fuel systems using CNG.

While acknowledging the progress made, Bawa called for greater involvement from other industry stakeholders to fast-track the national CNG program, a move initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his words, technician and quality control officer, Odiase Nosakhome, expressed optimism about the growing shift towards green energy in Nigeria.

He highlighted the successful training of 20 individuals in vehicle conversion to CNG, an initiative aimed at promoting clean energy across the country.

Enosakhare noted that the training was not only practical but also included a mentorship program, where graduates were assigned to work with accredited CNG conversion kits.

He emphasized that the shift to CNG could significantly benefit Nigeria, with the potential to reduce the financial burden of high fuel costs for the over three million vehicles currently running on petrol.