The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has announced the launch of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) e-portal, designed for youths in the commercial transport sector interested in operating CNG-powered tricycles across the country.
Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made the announcement during a press conference at his office on Monday.
According to *The PUNCH*, the Federal Government, through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative and the Youth Ministry, began distributing 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles on October 1 to empower Nigerian youth.
During the launch event, Michael Oluwagbemi, Project Director of the Presidential Initiative on CNG, stated that the distribution of the tricycles fulfills President Bola Tinubu’s promise to lower transportation costs, improve economic well-being, promote clean fuel use, and create job opportunities for young people.
On Monday, Olawande explained that the e-portal aims to ensure transparency in the enrollment of young Nigerians into the Presidential CNG initiative in the transport sector.
“Through the portal, youth from all over Nigeria can sign up to connect with aggregators or owners involved in the PiCNG program, while also starting the journey to becoming owners themselves.
“Our goal with this portal is to create transparency in the process of enrolling youth in the Presidential CNG Initiative for transportation. This means we are opening the process so that any young person eager to participate can take advantage of the program. This aligns with President Ahmed Tinubu’s vision that all government initiatives provide equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.”
He encouraged all youth working in or interested in the commercial transportation sector to register for the benefits offered through the PiCNG as part of the President’s broader palliative program.
Interested youths can visit the portal at www.youthcng.ng or www.pci.gov.ng/tricycle to register for the CNG program.
Also addressing the audience, Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and CEO of PCNGi, represented by Mr. Tosin Coker, described CNG as “the future of the nation,” emphasizing that the initiative is more than just a financial handout for young people.
“Indeed, CNG represents the future of Nigeria, just as youth represent the future of our nation. By adopting CNG, we are fostering a cleaner environment and moving away from petrol and diesel. This transition will also save the country from the financial burden of fuel subsidies that have long plagued us.
“What we are doing here goes beyond mere assistance; it is essential for the well-being, safety, and security of our nation. We must all work towards supporting our youth, who are our future,” he stated.
