FG unveils CNG buses, tricycles, conversion services for universities - Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

FG unveils CNG buses, tricycles, conversion services for universities

Published

on

CNG centre

FG unveils CNG buses, tricycles, conversion services for universities

The minister of state for petroleum resources (gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said this on Thursday while inaugurating the pilot phase of the project at the FEMADEC AutoGas Centre, Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, formerly known as UniAbuja.

The project is the first out of the 20 projects to be delivered across universities in the country, while an additional five would be commissioned in June.

It aims to improve mobility and reduce transportation cost for students and lecturers thereby establishing CNG ecosystems, donating CNG-powered buses and tricycles, as well as providing subsidised conversion services for lecturers’ vehicles.

The initiative, which serves as Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (CNG – SPROUT) Project, aims at deploying CNG buses, tricycles, conversion centres and refueling infrastructure to university campuses nationwide.

Mr Ekpo said there was need to cushion the impact of high cost of transportation on the most vulnerable populations, including students,

“This project remains a key national priority, as Nigeria navigates through economic adjustment and transition to cleaner fuels,” he said.

The minister said that further incentives, especially as it concerned CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refueling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain, would be unveiled in the coming months.

“President Bola Tinubu has made a firm commitment to prioritise energy affordability, security and environmental responsibility; today’s commissioning is a direct demonstration of that commitment in action.

“Through the Presidential Compressed Gas Initiative (P-CNGI), we are not only mitigating the impact of recent subsidy reforms but also laying the foundation for a modern, gas-driven transport economy.

READ ALSO:

“As Nigeria navigates the pathway of energy reform, economic adjustment and transition to cleaner fuels, the need to cushion the impact on the most vulnerable populations, including students, remains a key national priority.

“I would like to specially commend FEMADEC Energy for their vision, commitment and leadership in bringing this project to life. FEMADEC has shown that Nigerian companies have the capacity to be at the forefront of energy innovation.

“Their partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) underlines what is possible when the private and public sectors work hand-in-hand for national development,’’ Mr Ekpo said.

According to the minister, the MDGIF has remained a steadfast partner in the actualisation of Nigeria’s decade of gas vision, providing catalytic funding and support to infrastructure projects that directly benefit the Nigerian people.

He commended the collaborative efforts of the P-CNGI, the federal ministry of education, the ministry of transportation, university administrators and private sector partners, who have worked tirelessly to make the project a reality.

The minister said that the students’ voices, challenges and aspirations have shaped the intervention, hence the federal government’s continued effort to ensure that affordable transport, clean energy and innovations were never out of students reach.

Mr Ekpo further said that the federal government would continue to deepen the decade of gas agenda, as it expands similar initiatives, not just to university campuses, but across other public institutions and commercial sectors.

“In the coming months, we will be unveiling further incentives for CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refueling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain.”

In his address, the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, lauded the project, saying that it would enable staff and students of the institution to have their cars converted and refilled with CNG for affordable transportation.

He expressed satisfaction with the recent reforms and programmes of government to energise education in various universities across the country.

Patricia Lar, acting vice chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University, (former UniAbuja), who was excited over the project, commended the federal government and the project facilitators for the initiative.

Ms Lar lauded the facilitators for providing five 18-seater buses and many tricycles for the pilot scheme.

She decried the difficulties faced by students in transporting themselves to school, noting that the initiative would bring immediate relief to them and their lecturers.

The MDGIF, which is domiciled in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), is a fund established to improve gas infrastructure and utilisation.

The CNG – SPROUT project is being delivered through the collaboration of the MDGIF, P-CNGI and FEMADEC Energy.

FG unveils CNG buses, tricycles, conversion services for universities

(NAN)

Loading

metro

Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors

Published

on

Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors

Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors

Two police inspectors attached to the Kawo Police Division in Kaduna State have died after a Toyota Hilux vehicle allegedly driven by a soldier struck them near the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Junction in Kaduna metropolis.

The fatal incident reportedly occurred on Thursday in the Kawo area while the officers were crossing the road as pedestrians.

The deceased officers were identified as Inspector Tanko Musa and Inspector Ajubi Onah.

According to sources familiar with the incident, the Toyota Hilux was reportedly travelling at high speed when it rammed into the two officers at the busy junction.

A source described the incident as a “black moment” for the Kawo Police Division and alleged that the vehicle was driven by a soldier who was under the influence of alcohol.

READ ALSO:

However, the allegation that the driver was intoxicated had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report. No official medical assessment, police investigation report or statement from military authorities had been released to establish the claim.

A video said to have been recorded shortly after the crash showed the bodies of the two police officers on the road as residents and sympathisers gathered at the scene.

The incident has reportedly caused grief among officers and personnel attached to the Kawo Police Division.

As of the latest available information, there was no official confirmation that the driver had been arrested or taken into custody.

The identity of the alleged driver, the military unit involved and other circumstances surrounding the crash were also not immediately available.

Neither the Kaduna State Police Command nor the Nigerian Army had issued an official statement on the incident at the time of publication.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal crash are expected to be investigated to establish the identity of the driver, the speed of the vehicle and whether any traffic or road-safety regulations were violated.

Investigators may also examine claims concerning the driver’s condition at the time of the incident and determine whether any other factors contributed to the crash.

The incident has renewed concerns about road safety, responsible driving and the need for thorough and transparent investigations into fatal accidents involving security personnel or official vehicles.

Further updates are expected from the police, military authorities or other relevant agencies as investigations continue.

Vehicle allegedly driven by drunk soldier kills two police inspectors

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno

Published

on

Over 40 Bandits, 8 Commanders Killed as Security Forces Repel Katsina Attack

Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno

Maiduguri — At least eight Nigerian soldiers were killed when a military convoy escorting logistics supplies hit an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in Borno State.

The deadly explosion reportedly occurred on Thursday along the Maiduguri–Dikwa road as troops attached to the 24 Task Force Brigade were returning to their base in Dikwa after successfully escorting military supplies from Maiduguri.

According to security sources, one of the vehicles in the convoy struck the buried explosive, triggering a powerful blast that destroyed the vehicle and killed about eight soldiers on the spot. Several other personnel were also reportedly injured and evacuated for medical treatment.

Although the Nigerian Army has yet to officially confirm the casualty figure, military sources described the attack as one of the latest in a series of insurgent assaults targeting security forces operating in the North-East.

READ ALSO:

The attackers are believed to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an extremist group that has intensified the use of roadside bombs and ambushes against military convoys despite sustained counter-insurgency operations by Nigerian troops.

The Maiduguri–Dikwa axis remains one of the most vulnerable routes in Borno State, with insurgents frequently planting improvised explosive devices to disrupt military movements and logistics operations.

Following the explosion, additional troops were reportedly deployed to the area to secure the route, evacuate casualties and recover the damaged military vehicle. Security patrols were also intensified to prevent further attacks.

The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges confronting the Nigerian military in the North-East, where troops continue to battle insurgent groups seeking to regain operational strength despite years of sustained offensives by government forces.

As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had not released an official statement on the incident or confirmed the number of casualties. However, security operations were said to be ongoing in the area as efforts continued to track down those responsible for the attack.

Bomb Explosion Kills Eight Soldiers Escorting Military Supplies in Borno

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim

Published

on

Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim
Content Creator and Streamer Carter Efe and Former Big Brother Naija winner Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna

Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim

  • Reality TV star gives content creator seven days to retract claim or face legal proceedings after explosive social media dispute.

Former Big Brother Naija winner Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has initiated legal action against content creator and streamer Carter Efe, demanding ₦500 million in damages over allegations that he falsely claimed they had a sexual relationship. The legal move follows days of escalating online drama that has dominated Nigerian social media conversations and drawn widespread public attention, with fans and observers closely following the unfolding dispute between the two prominent figures in Nigeria’s entertainment space.

In a pre-action letter dated July 30, 2026, signed by Segun Ojienoh of Eko Solicitors & Advocates, Phyna accused Carter Efe, whose real name is Joseph Oderhohwo Efe, of making defamatory remarks during a livestream broadcast on Twitch and X on July 25. The letter detailed how Carter Efe repeatedly claimed, “You slept with me,” during the broadcast, a statement that Phyna’s legal team argued falsely portrayed her as someone who engages in sexual relationships to gain opportunities to appear on livestreams. The lawyers further contended that the statement exposed Phyna to public ridicule and caused significant harm to her reputation, which she has built over years as a public figure and brand influencer.

“As you coldly calculated, the sinister statement has since been rebroadcast on numerous platforms and by handles which are legion, thereby escalating the untoward damage already visited on Phyna,” the letter reads in part. “The above defamatory words which you uttered were packed with innuendos suggesting that Phyna will sleep with anyone with a significant online following in order to get featured on livestreams, especially when the statement is rationalised alongside the sentences uttered in the sequence following the defamatory words.” The legal team emphasized that the defamatory nature of the statement was compounded by the viral nature of social media, where content can spread rapidly and reach millions of viewers within hours.

READ ALSO:

Phyna’s lawyers demanded that Carter Efe take specific actions to remedy the harm caused. First, they demanded that he retract the statement within seven days of receiving the letter, doing so in a contrite manner. Second, they required that he publish an undertaking not to make similar comments in the future, effectively committing to refrain from further character assassination. Third, they insisted that the retraction be issued via the same livestream platforms where the statement was made, ensuring that the correction reaches the same audience that witnessed the original allegation. At this stage, Phyna is not seeking monetary compensation, with the letter stating she has set the value of damages demanded at “₦0.00 (Zero Naira, Zero Kobo)” , a gesture her lawyers described as gracious and focused on clearing her name rather than financial gain.

However, the letter warns that failure to comply with the demands will result in legal proceedings, with Phyna seeking not less than ₦500 million in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages for the alleged harm to her reputation. “If you do not meet any – or all – of the above demands, TAKE NOTICE THAT, without prejudice to other rights, reliefs and remedies available to her, Phyna will be seeking legal redress against you by claiming a sum not less than a sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) only as general, exemplary and aggravated damages, for the malicious damage you did to Phyna’s character,” the letter added, leaving no doubt about the seriousness of the legal threat.

The controversy that led to this legal action began when Davrel, a streamer associated with singer Davido, alleged that Carter Efe had described Phyna as being “of no benefit.” Phyna responded by calling out Davrel over an alleged unpaid debt, triggering a public exchange between the parties that quickly escalated on social media. The situation intensified when Davrel accused Phyna of making sexual advances toward him and claimed she had asked him to introduce her to his father, further inflaming tensions and drawing more attention to the dispute. During a subsequent confrontation between Phyna and Carter Efe in a viral video shared on social media, Carter Efe claimed they had been sexually involved, a statement that became the basis for the current legal action. In the viral exchange, Phyna asked, “Me and you fck?”* and Carter Efe responded, “Yes. I will bring the whole evidence come outside.” Phyna then replied, “Thank you very much. You and Davrel will hear from my lawyer,” foreshadowing the legal action that would follow.

During an Instagram Live session on Thursday night, an emotional Phyna apologised to her fans and confirmed that legal action had been taken against both Carter Efe and Davrel. She reflected on the toll the ordeal had taken on her, saying, “I know a lot of people say I’ve lost my self-respect. I have put myself down so much, and I think I finally realised that. Yes, you are saying the truth.” Phyna continued, “I have stood different kinds of drags, but there are two types of drags that I can’t stand. One is what everybody knows, and the other one is a sexual and man issue. I do not move that way,” emphasizing the particular pain caused by allegations of a sexual nature. She stated that the events of the past few days had forced her to adopt a new approach, one that prioritizes legal recourse over emotional reactions. “Since I started streaming, I tried to stream the way everybody streams, but it has brought a lot of disrespect to me, and this one that happened recently has to be the last time I will be disrespected like that. It has to be the last time my playful self or that Phyna that’s always there for everybody, laughing with everybody, or that Phyna that would always rant online when someone offended her,” she said. “This is the end of that Phyna because, at last, I’m finally learning how to use legal means because, at the end of the day, if I check it, I don’t really look for trouble. Most times, it’s my own reactions that overshadow what was done to me, and it makes the whole thing seem like I am the one wrong. So, Carter Efe and Davrel, check your emails and WhatsApp. You’ve been served. Thank you,” she concluded, signaling a new chapter in how she handles public disputes.

Shortly after Phyna’s announcement, Carter Efe confirmed in a video shared online that he had been sued for ₦500 million. As of the time of this report, he had not publicly indicated whether he would comply with the demands in the pre-action letter, leaving his next move uncertain. The coming days will determine whether the matter is resolved out of court or proceeds to litigation, a development that would likely draw even more attention to the already high-profile dispute.

Phyna Files N500 Million Defamation Suit Against Carter Efe Over Sex Claim

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending