TINUBU APPOINTS ISMAEL AHMED AS CHAIRMAN OF PRESIDENTIAL CNG INITIATIVE

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Barrister Ismael Ahmed as the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), a key component of the administration’s broader effort to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal through alternative energy solutions.

The appointment was announced on Thursday in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

According to the statement, Ahmed will oversee and coordinate the operations of the initiative, which is aimed at promoting cheaper, cleaner, and more accessible energy alternatives for Nigerians, particularly through the expanded use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a substitute for petrol.

“The PCNGi is part of President Tinubu’s palliative intervention strategy to ease the burden on citizens following the removal of petrol subsidies,” the statement noted.

Ismael Ahmed, 45, is a lawyer and policy expert. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Abuja in 2005 and was called to the Nigerian Bar the following year. He later earned a master’s degree in international relations, communications, and diplomacy from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in 2008.

A seasoned public servant, Ahmed previously served as Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on the National Social Investment Program between 2018 and 2022.

His appointment is expected to inject fresh momentum into the federal government’s drive to expand access to alternative energy sources and mitigate the economic strain on citizens caused by subsidy reforms.