Plateau flags off CNG conversion training for 120 youths

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos

The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Thermolinks Ltd., has flagged off a five-day training programme on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion, safety, and maintenance for 120 youths in Jos.

The initiative, which kicked off on Monday ,at the Federal Secretariat, Jos, aligns with the Federal Government’s National Gas Expansion Programme to promote cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy options nationwide.

Declaring the programme open, Plateau State Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang, described it as a strategic move that supports the state’s priorities in youth empowerment, skills acquisition, and environmental sustainability.

“Youth development remains a top priority of our administration. “

“This training goes beyond gas conversion; it equips our young people with practical, market-driven skills that open doors to entrepreneurship and active participation in Nigeria’s evolving energy economy,” she said.

Piyo commended the NCDMB for extending the programme to non-oil-producing states like Plateau, calling it a demonstration of national inclusion and commitment to indigenous capacity building.

Project Director of Thermolinks Ltd., Mr. Tonye Briggs, revealed that Plateau is the fifth state to benefit from the programme, praising the exceptional support from the state government compared to others.

He explained that the training is highly practical, combining theoretical sessions with real-time vehicle conversions.

Each participant will receive a starter toolkit and two certificates, one backed by the Federal Government and another by the programme partners.”

” Their names will also be uploaded to a national database of certified CNG technicians,” Briggs stated.

Briggs highlighted the rising demand for CNG technicians, noting that over 70 per cent of newly introduced heavy-duty trucks nationwide now run on CNG, with thousands more deployed recently.

Plateau State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Davou Jatau who spoke earlier hailed the initiative as a novel and timely innovation for the state.

He disclosed ongoing partnerships to establish a CNG conversion centre in Jos.

Jatau appealed for accelerated federal support in providing CNG refilling infrastructure, stressing that gas supply access remains a major challenge.

General Manager of the Plateau State Energy Services Corporation, Engr. Ponzing Gamde, emphasized the dual benefits of the programme.

“This programme is a major gain for Plateau State, It promotes clean energy, reduces environmental degradation, and equips our youths with skills they can turn into a sustainable occupation.”

” It is both an empowerment initiative and an environmental intervention,” Gamde said.

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