The Federal Government is set to train and certify 300 National Youth Service Corps members as compressed natural gas technicians and attach them to CNG conversion centres across Nigeria.
The initiative was announced by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring and Delivery, Titilope Gbadamosi, during the launch of a CNG retrofitting training programme at the NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja.
The programme will be implemented across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to equip young Nigerians with practical skills linked to the country's transition towards CNG-powered transportation.
Gbadamosi said the programme is targeted at supporting the government's goal of retrofitting 100,000 vehicles annually.She added that the selected corps members would receive technical training before being certified and attached to different CNG conversion centres.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative would create additional employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Nigerians beyond their mandatory service year.
He urged the corps members to maximise the training by developing skills that complement their academic qualifications.
Olawande also encouraged young Nigerians to embrace cheaper and more sustainable energy alternatives while positioning themselves to benefit from emerging opportunities in the CNG sector.The initiative is part of wider Federal Government efforts to increase the use of compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel for motorists following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Gbadamosi said the National Automotive Design and Development Council had committed its technical expertise, certification standards and funding to support the programme.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, described the training as an example of inter-agency collaboration aimed at connecting classroom knowledge with practical skills.
He said the NYSC was prepared to support Nigeria's energy transition while continuing to provide corps members with opportunities to acquire useful vocational skills. The programme could also create a pool of trained technicians capable of supporting the growing number of CNG conversion centres expected across the country.
For participating corps members, the training offers an opportunity to gain specialised technical experience that could remain valuable after completing their national service.
The Federal Government's focus on CNG technicians also reflects the growing need for skilled manpower as Nigeria expands its alternative-fuel infrastructure.
If successfully implemented, the programme could help address both youth unemployment and the shortage of skilled technicians needed to support CNG vehicle conversion.
The 300 corps members are expected to undergo training and certification before being deployed to designated CNG centres.