The National Compressed Natural Gas Forum (NCNG-F) has opened discussions with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) on a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening skills development and indigenous capacity across Nigeria’s emerging Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) value chain.
The NCNG-F delegation, led by its National Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Abdullahi, made the proposal during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Prof. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, at the PTDF Towers in Abuja.
The engagement focused on potential areas of collaboration in capacity development, technical skills acquisition and the advancement of Nigeria’s growing gas economy.
Abdullahi said the transition to CNG represented more than the conversion of vehicles from petrol and diesel to gas, describing it as an opportunity to build a robust indigenous industrial ecosystem capable of generating jobs, supporting innovation and deepening local participation in the gas sector.
He noted that the emerging CNG industry would require a pool of skilled technicians, engineers, researchers, vehicle conversion specialists and entrepreneurs to support its sustainable expansion.
To address the skills gap, the NCNG-F chairman proposed a structured capacity development programme in partnership with PTDF, covering CNG skills acquisition, professional certification, research and development, indigenous technology development, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship.
He said the proposed programme would help prepare Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities emerging from the country’s expanding gas economy while reducing dependence on foreign technical expertise.
Responding, the PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof. Aliyu, commended the delegation for the initiative and reaffirmed the Fund’s willingness to collaborate with stakeholders whose programmes align with its mandate of developing human capacity for Nigeria’s petroleum and gas industry.
Aliyu noted the increasing number of gas-related projects across the country, describing the proposed partnership as timely given the growing demand for technically competent personnel in the sector.
He said a stronger collaboration between PTDF and industry stakeholders could significantly expand indigenous technical capacity, promote innovation and create opportunities for young Nigerians within the CNG industry.
The proposed partnership is expected to support the development of a skilled workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s CNG expansion while contributing to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the country’s gas value chain.
