Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to immediately deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide, a bold move aimed at easing the burden of rising global fuel prices and promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper, cleaner alternative to petrol.

The directive was issued during a closed-door meeting between the president and PiCNG Executive Chairman Ismaeel Ahmed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ahmed disclosed that the president requested updates on the initiative’s progress, particularly regarding measures to cushion Nigerians from the impact of fuel price volatility driven by tensions in the Middle East.

“The president is concerned about the effect of global petroleum price spikes on Nigerians. He has given a direct mandate to immediately deploy about 100,000 CNG conversion kits,” Ahmed said. The kits will allow vehicle owners, including cars and tricycles, to convert petrol engines to run on compressed natural gas, offering an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.

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The rollout is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks, with conversion centres nationwide becoming active as large-scale vehicle conversions commence. Ahmed noted that the initiative is also accelerating infrastructure development to support CNG and electric mobility, including the expansion of refuelling and charging stations across key transport corridors.

Currently, around 77 CNG refuelling stations are at various stages of development across Nigeria. Kano already operates two liquefied CNG stations, with additional daughter stations under construction. The infrastructure expansion covers major routes from Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, and Maiduguri, ensuring broad access to alternative fuel.

The initiative also encourages the local assembly of CNG and electric vehicles through partnerships with domestic and international manufacturers. Collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency is underway to deploy solar-powered charging stations in off-grid areas, supporting a clean energy transition.

President Tinubu emphasized that the PiCNG programme should deliver quick results, reducing transportation costs, improving mobility for Nigerians, and mitigating the impact of global fuel shocks on the economy.

Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

Middle East Conflict: FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran

The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun evacuating Nigerian citizens from Iran as the Middle East conflict intensifies, guiding those who choose to leave safely across the Armenian border. The move comes after US–Israeli military strikes on February 28, which sparked retaliatory attacks and heightened fears of a wider regional war affecting foreign nationals.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), confirmed the evacuation on her X account, stating that officials from the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating the operation. She emphasized that no Nigerian in Iran has been directly affected by the conflict and that embassy personnel remain stationed at the border to assist evacuees.

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“Willing Nigerians are being escorted across the Armenian border by embassy officials for safe passage. No Nigerian has been affected by the war as officials remain to receive all who want to leave,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

The evacuation initiative prioritizes Nigerians in Iran, including students and residents who may face disruptions due to airspace closures and regional insecurity. Overland evacuation routes through neighboring Armenia were identified as the safest option amid escalating military activity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also activated emergency contact systems, urging Nigerians in conflict-affected countries — including Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE — to maintain regular communication with their nearest Nigerian diplomatic missions. Authorities are coordinating with foreign partners to ensure the safe and orderly movement of citizens.

Officials stress that the evacuation underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad, especially as the conflict shows no signs of immediate de-escalation. Further plans are being reviewed to accommodate additional evacuees if the situation worsens.

Middle East Conflict: FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran

India, Other Countries Reject Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees

Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept ambassadorial nominees recently put forward by President Bola Tinubu, citing concerns over the remaining tenure of the sending government. The decision affects Nigeria’s efforts to restore full diplomatic representation across its foreign missions.

Diplomatic sources disclosed that India has a standing practice of not granting agrément—the formal approval required before an ambassador can assume office—to nominees from governments with less than two years remaining in office. This policy has reportedly delayed the posting of several Nigerian ambassadors, including career diplomat Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, who was designated to serve in New Delhi.

“They don’t accept an ambassador from an administration that has less than two years in office. So they are giving us that body language already,” a Presidency source said, emphasizing that the stance is tied to diplomatic norms rather than personal objections to the nominees.

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The delayed agrément process has implications for several ambassadorial nominees whose appointments were approved by the Federal Government on March 6, 2026. The approved list includes over 60 envoys, among them former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode (Germany), presidential aide Reno Omokri (Mexico), former Katsina Governor Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (China), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (UN Permanent Representative).

While India’s position is the most explicit so far, officials warn that other countries may adopt similar approaches, potentially delaying Nigeria’s plan to fully fill vacant foreign missions. Some nations prefer ambassadors who can serve a minimum period of three to four years, enabling them to build strong diplomatic relationships and provide continuity in bilateral engagement.

Diplomatic analysts note that the agrément process is standard under international law, specifically Article 4 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows host countries to decline nominees without explanation.

The Tinubu administration recalled all previous ambassadors in September 2023, leaving many of Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions operating under chargé d’affaires. The current delays in obtaining agrément are viewed as a challenge to restoring Nigeria’s full diplomatic capacity before the country’s next presidential election scheduled for early 2027.

Officials, however, remain optimistic that diplomatic negotiations will secure approval for most nominees, particularly for countries where Nigeria has longstanding bilateral ties.

India, Other Countries Reject Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees