In a bid to reduce the cost of transportation for students and promote cleaner energy use, the Federal Government has launched the Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (SPROUT) programme at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, who inaugurated the initiative on Thursday, said the gas-powered transport scheme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of affordable and sustainable energy solutions, particularly in the transportation sector.
Ekpo explained that the programme, powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), was designed to cushion the financial burden of mobility on students, lecturers and other members of tertiary institutions across the country. He added that it would also promote environmentally friendly transportation within university communities.
“We are not only mitigating the impact of recent subsidy reforms but also laying the foundation for a modern, gas-driven transport economy,” Ekpo said. “This initiative could not have come at a more critical time. As Nigeria navigates the pathway of energy reform, economic adjustment, and transition to cleaner fuels, the need to cushion the impact on our most vulnerable populations, including our student community, remains a key national priority,” he said.
The minister commended FEMADEC Energy, the implementing contractor, for its commitment to the project, and also acknowledged the support of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) for funding the initiative.
“This is not just a transport solution, it is a jobs and industrialisation pathway. In the coming months, we will be unveiling further incentives for CNG vehicle conversion, expanding refuelling infrastructure, and supporting local assembly and innovation in the CNG value chain,” Ekpo added.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, lauded the Tinubu administration for its interventions aimed at improving student welfare, including the ongoing provision of free WiFi, solar power projects, and now the SPROUT programme.
Describing the initiative as transformative, Alausa urged students to maintain the infrastructure for long-term benefit and praised Ekpo for his drive to unlock value in the gas sector through waste-to-wealth initiatives.
Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Patricia Lar, thanked the Federal Government for choosing the institution as a launchpad for the SPROUT programme. She disclosed that the university had already received five 18-seater CNG-powered buses and several tricycles to ease movement on campus.
She said students and staff will benefit from cheaper transport options, both on and off campus, as they transition
from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to those running on the more affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Managing Director of FEMADEC Energy, Fola Akinnola, described the project as a holistic initiative.
He revealed that beyond providing vehicles, the programme would also introduce a gas curriculum to equip students with technical skills in CNG technology and conversion systems.
