The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, has urged public and private sector stakeholders to intensify collaboration in order to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, more affordable energy.
Speaking at the launch of the NASENI–Portland Limited Daughter Station in Kubwa, Abuja, on Wednesday, Halilu said the new facility which houses a CNG Conversion Centre, Training Centre, and Gas Refill Station is part of NASENI’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a diversified, sustainable, and industrially vibrant economy.
“Under my leadership at NASENI, our mission has been simple: turn technology into impact,” Halilu said. “That means building partnerships, like this one with Portland Gas Limited, that combine technical expertise, private-sector efficiency, and national commitment. This is how we move the nation forward.”
Highlighting the economic impact of the initiative, Halilu noted that Nigerian drivers spend over 40% of their daily earnings on fuel, one of the highest fuel-cost burdens in the world. “Imagine cutting that cost by half while reducing harmful emissions and extending the life of our engines. That’s the reality we are working towards,” he stated.
The new Kubwa daughter station, with a capacity to convert up to 20 vehicles daily, will make Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) more accessible, affordable, and convenient for everyday Nigerians. It follows the commissioning of NASENI’s flagship CNG Conversion, Filling and Training Centre in Utako last year.
Halilu emphasized that the initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about empowering people, especially the youth. Over the past year, NASENI has trained 30 Nigerian engineers from all geopolitical zones in CNG conversion, auto maintenance, and clean energy technologies. “They represent a new generation of home-grown experts who will take this innovation to every corner of the country,” he said.
Outlining NASENI’s ambitious plan to replicate such facilities across all 36 states and the FCT, Halilu underscored the importance of collaboration to achieve the goal. “Accessibility, competition, and efficiency are at the heart of our strategy but none of these can happen without collective effort. Government, private investors, industry players, and citizens all have a role to play in driving this energy transition,” he said.
The EVC reiterated that the benefits of CNG adoption are undeniable: lower fuel costs, cleaner air, better engine performance, stronger energy security, and sustainable jobs for Nigerian youth.
“Together, we are not just building stations we are building a movement that fuels our vehicles, empowers our youth, strengthens our industries, and protects our planet,” Halilu concluded.
The event drew commendations from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (represented); and other dignitaries, who lauded NASENI’s leadership and urged Nigerians to embrace the transition to cleaner energy.