The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG) has entered into a strategic partnership with China’s You Jie Te Environment Technology Ltd (YJT) to localise the production of key transport energy infrastructure in Nigeria, in a move aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to cleaner and more affordable mobility.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during a five-day visit by a Pi-CNG delegation to YJT’s facilities in Chengdu and Hangzhou, China. The delegation was led by Pi-CNG Executive Chairman, Ismaeel Ahmed.
According to Pi-CNG, the agreement will drive local manufacturing and assembly of critical infrastructure for compressed natural gas and electric vehicles, expanding access to cleaner transport energy while strengthening domestic industrial capacity.
Under the MoU, YJT will support the local production and assembly of CNG dispensers, refuelling stations, and electric vehicle charging facilities in Nigeria. The partnership also covers the deployment of advanced digital systems to improve efficiency, safety, and transparency across the emerging CNG and EV ecosystem.
Ahmed explained that a key component of the agreement is the integration of YJT’s smart Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring solutions into Nigeria’s transport energy network. These will complement Pi-CNG’s National Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS), creating a unified digital backbone for the sector.
“This integration will enable real-time monitoring of refuelling equipment, operational performance, regulatory compliance, and economic data across CNG and EV stations nationwide,” he said.
He added that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure delivery, with strong emphasis on local value creation.
“This partnership is a significant step forward in ensuring that Nigerians benefit not only from cleaner and more affordable transport energy, but also from job creation, skills transfer, and improved service reliability,” Ahmed said. “By localising manufacturing and deploying smart monitoring technologies, we are strengthening transparency, safety, and efficiency across the CNG and EV refuelling value chain, ultimately delivering better outcomes for commuters, operators, and the broader economy.”
As part of the China engagement, the Pi-CNG team also inspected the factory of Sichuan Witent Technology Co. Ltd, a manufacturer of CNG conversion kits. The visit focused on exploring opportunities for local assembly and full-scale manufacturing of conversion kits in Nigeria to meet growing demand for vehicles switching from petrol and diesel to gas.
Pi-CNG said discussions with Sichuan Witent centred on potential investments that would deepen local content across the gas-to-transport value chain, reduce import dependence, and lower costs for Nigerian vehicle owners seeking conversion to CNG.
The initiative noted that the engagements reflect its broader strategy of leveraging international partnerships to accelerate technology transfer, build domestic capacity, and fast-track the development of a sustainable transport energy market in Nigeria.
With Nigeria seeking to cut fuel costs, reduce emissions, and improve energy security, the partnership with YJT is expected to play a critical role in scaling up CNG and EV infrastructure nationwide, while positioning the country as a regional hub for clean transport solutions.
