Zamfara State is set to deepen its transition towards cleaner and more affordable transportation as Governor Dauda Lawal intensifies efforts to modernise the state’s mobility system through compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (EVs).
Governor Lawal on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, received the Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, at the Zamfara State Government House in Gusau.
The meeting centred on expanding the CNG programme, accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and developing affordable, cleaner and sustainable transportation solutions for residents.
During the engagement, Ahmed identified Zamfara’s strategic location as a major advantage, noting that the state has the potential to emerge as a key green mobility hub serving Nigeria’s Northwest and the wider Sahel region.
Under the proposed partnership, Zamfara is expected to establish a Green Mobility Hub featuring CNG refuelling facilities, electric vehicle charging stations and vehicle conversion centres.
The federal initiative also indicated its readiness to provide technical and financing support, with the potential to facilitate access to a $500 million clean-mobility equipment fund.
Zamfara has already begun laying the groundwork for the transition. The state government has acquired 100 electric taxis and about 50 buses for public transportation and installed charging infrastructure to support their operations.
Governor Lawal also disclosed that test runs of CNG-powered buses for students are ongoing, while plans are at an advanced stage to make the Government House fully off-grid within weeks.
Beyond transportation infrastructure, the state is also investing in human capital development. An automotive training centre was previously inaugurated to equip young people with technical skills in CNG vehicle maintenance, mechatronics and related emerging technologies.
A major objective of the CNG and EV programme is to reduce the cost of transportation for Nigerians. The Pi-CNG & EV is targeting a nationwide reduction in transport fares from October 1, 2026, with the lower cost of CNG expected to translate into savings for commuters.
Officials at the meeting also stressed the importance of developing CNG infrastructure along major transportation corridors to guarantee consistent availability of the fuel.
As one official put it, “anything that is not available is not affordable.”
The latest engagement reinforces Governor Lawal’s drive to reposition Zamfara’s transportation sector through cleaner energy, modern infrastructure and skills development.
If successfully implemented, the proposed Green Mobility Hub could strengthen Zamfara’s position as a transportation and clean-energy centre in the Northwest, while creating economic opportunities, reducing commuting costs and supporting the state’s transition towards a more sustainable transport system.
