By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ismael Ahmed, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi).
The appointment was announced on Friday in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Ahmed will be responsible for coordinating the operations of the PCNGi, a flagship component of the Tinubu administration’s palliative intervention programme aimed at cushioning the impact of fuel subsidy removal by providing cheaper and cleaner alternative energy sources.
“Ahmed will coordinate the operations of the presidential initiative, which is designed to alleviate the effects of removing fuel subsidies by offering cheaper, more affordable, and cleaner energy options,” Onanuga stated.
At 45, Ahmed brings a wealth of experience to the role. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Abuja (2005) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2006. He further obtained a master’s degree in International Relations, Communications, and Diplomacy from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, in 2008.
Ahmed previously served as the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on the National Social Investment Programme from 2018 to 2022.
His appointment is expected to bolster the implementation of the PCNGi, which forms a crucial part of the federal government’s strategy to promote energy transition and reduce reliance on petrol-powered vehicles and generators.
