Jigawa partners presidential CNG initiative to expand alternative energy infrastructure

The Jigawa State Government has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) to expand alternative energy infrastructure and promote the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG), particularly in the agricultural sector.

Governor Umar Namadi disclosed this on Tuesday, when the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative, Ismaeel Ahmed, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Dutse.

Governor Namadi said the state’s interest in CNG extends beyond its use in transportation, saying that affordable energy for irrigation is critical to reducing farmers’ production costs and sustaining agricultural activities.

He stated that energy costs currently account for more than half of farmers’ operating expenses, a situation he said was discouraging some farmers from returning to their farms.

“As of today, energy costs constitute more than 50% of the operating expenses of our farmers,” the governor said.

He also said that the state had resolved to undertake the conversion of irrigation pumps from conventional energy sources to CNG as part of measures to lower production costs, alongside other subsidies on agricultural inputs.

“On this initiative, the state government is ready to bear the cost of conversion for the targeted farms. For us, going into CNG is a matter of necessity,” he said

The governor said the proposed intervention was particularly important to the state’s dry-season wheat and rice production programmes, as he reiterated Jigawa’s target of cultivating 500,000 hectares of wheat by 2030 and producing four million metric tonnes of rice annually within the same period.

He said the government was ready to provide land and other necessary support to facilitate the initiative, including collaboration with private-sector investors.

Earlier speaking, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed described Jigawa as an important location for the expansion of CNG infrastructure because of its strategic position between Kano and the Northeast, as well as its land availability and the state government’s interest in alternative energy.

He said the presidential initiative was in discussions with private-sector investors to explore opportunities for establishing a major alternative energy hub in Jigawa, which could serve vehicles and heavy-duty transport operating along major routes.

The chairman also disclosed that the initiative was working towards expanding the number of CNG conversion centres in the state, saying that the target was to have at least 30 centres by December 2026, subject to the willingness of local investors to participate.

He added that the initiative would also explore collaboration with the state government to establish electric vehicle charging infrastructure as part of the wider alternative energy programme.

The governor welcomed the proposals and reaffirmed Jigawa State’s readiness to work with the Presidential Initiative, investors, and other relevant partners to advance the development of alternative energy infrastructure.

He said the proposed collaboration would complement the state’s investments in irrigation and agricultural mechanization while supporting efforts to reduce the cost of food production and improve farmers’ livelihoods.