The federal government has launched an online portal to enable Nigerian youths to access compressed natural gas (CNG) tricycles under its Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi). This initiative follows the recent release of 2,000 CNG tricycles on October 1, aimed at creating jobs and promoting a greener environment.
Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth Development, announced the portal’s activation in Abuja, stating that the platform will allow youths across the country to sign up for the program. Through the portal, participants can be matched with aggregators or owners operating under P-CNGi, providing a pathway for them to eventually own their tricycles.
Olawande emphasized that the goal is to ensure transparency in selecting participants and to offer Nigerian youths a chance to play a role in this initiative. “By embracing CNG, we are building a cleaner environment for our nation,” he said. “We are also saving the nation in terms of the cost that is typically spent on petrol subsidies, which have been a financial burden.”
He encouraged youths currently working in or interested in the commercial transport sector to sign up through the official websites, www.youthcng.ng and www.bci.gov.ng/tricycles, which provide detailed instructions on how to get enlisted.
NYIF to Support Young Entrepreneurs
Olawande also highlighted the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), an initiative with a N110 billion capital base aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurs and start-ups. He added that this fund complements other government initiatives, such as student loans designed to remove financial barriers to education, and the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), a platform for equipping youths with skills for business and employment.
Stakeholder Support for the Initiative
Muhammad Hassan, National President of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, expressed the association’s commitment to the program’s success. “We will not only mobilize our members but also ensure they use the tricycles responsibly and pay back their loans promptly,” Hassan said.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Project Director and CEO of P-CNGi, represented by Tosin Coker, head of commercial at P-CNGi, stressed the economic benefits of the initiative. “The CNG project will reduce transportation costs and lessen Nigeria’s dependence on petrol,” Coker noted, adding that the initiative also provides a solid opportunity for youth employment.
The launch of this portal marks another step in the government’s efforts to empower Nigerian youths while promoting sustainability in the transportation sector.
