Egypt’s Natural Gas Vehicles Company (Cargas) has launched ambitious plans to explore expansion opportunities into the Nigerian market and participate in national initiatives aimed at expanding

Compressed natural gas (CNG) utilization and “Transferring the company’s expertise and pioneering experience in this field,”

Egypts Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR), announced the plan after a team from Cargas visited Nigeria.

The visit comes in line with the directives of Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, to strengthen regional and international cooperation and to open new horizons for Egyptian petroleum sector companies in the African markets.

During the visit, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), received Mohamed Fouad, Egypt’s Ambassador to Nigeria, alongside the Cargas delegation to formulate mechanisms for enhancing bilateral cooperation in natural gas applications, focusing heavily on CNG deployment in the transportation sector.

Ekpo noted that achieving the ambitious milestones of Nigeria’s presidential initiative to expand CNG utilization requires building robust partnerships and exchanging technical and operational know-how. Furthermore, the minister praised Egypt’s sustained success in converting vehicles to run on natural gas and valued the readiness of the Egyptian government and Cargas to support the Nigerian market through essential technology transfers, according to the statement.

In line with these strategic objectives, the Cargas delegation held a series of intensive meetings with multiple regulatory bodies and institutions supervising Nigeria’s energy and transportation sectors.

These include the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The sessions produced initial plans for retail station infrastructure, CNG conversion centers, local component manufacturing, and training programs to support natural gas integration across transport networks

Founded in 1995 as Egypt’s first dedicated CNG automotive company, Cargas held a 41 per cent share of the market in 2025, supported by a nationwide network of 56 conversion and maintenance centers.

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A security expert and executive protection specialist, Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo, has applauded President Bola Tinubu over the creation of the Office of Special Adviser on Homeland Security.

In a statement made available to journalists, Dr Lekan Ojo also commended that choice of Maj Gen Adeyinka Fadewa (retd), as Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security.

According to him, “This step signals a clear commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, enhancing intelligence-driven operations, and improving inter-agency collaboration at a time when Nigerians are demanding safer communities and more responsive governance.

“I also acknowledge and appreciate the appointment of Maj Gen Adeyinka Fadewa (retd), a highly decorated officer with over three decades of experience in military and intelligence operations, counter-terrorism, and national security strategy.

“His role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Office of the National Security Adviser demonstrates his capacity for high-level coordination and strategic planning.”

He, however, Lekan Ojo suggested Nuhu Ribadu and Adeyinka Fadewa should swap positions due to their different areas of specialisation.

“In the spirit of constructive nation-building and to ensure maximum impact from this new architecture, I respectfully advise a strategic swap of roles to align expertise with mandate: Appoint NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Special Adviser on Homeland Security.

“As a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police and former Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Ribadu brings deep experience in policing, internal security, law enforcement coordination, and civil-security relations. Homeland security is fundamentally about managing domestic threats, policing, civil unrest, and inter-agency cooperation at the community level. This aligns directly with his professional background.

“Appoint Maj Gen Adeyinka Fadewa (retd) as National Security Adviser.*
With his extensive military career, experience as Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, and leadership in intelligence fusion and national security strategy, Gen Fadewa is well-positioned to manage the broader national defense and external security landscape at the strategic level.

“This realignment is not a criticism of any individual, but a recommendation to match skillsets to roles for optimal results. The right person in the right seat will accelerate policy execution, improve synergy between security agencies, and give Nigerians the confidence that both internal and external threats are being addressed with the right expertise.

“I believe that such a move will strengthen the administration’s security architecture and deliver the tangible results Nigerians expect on security and stability.”

By David Torough, Abuja

Auto360 Nigeria Limited has celebrated the graduation of its latest cohort of automobile trainees, marking the end of an intensive technical training program and the beginning of industry internships for the newly skilled mechanics.

The ceremony highlighted the collaborative effort behind the initiative, which was supported by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria under the TVET IDEAS Project, alongside the World Bank.

The Managing Director and CEO of Auto360 Nigeria Limited, Dr.

He also acknowledged the role of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that government backing for vocational education is helping to build a capable workforce for the country’s growing automotive sector.

According to Dr. Ubwa, the graduating trainees have undergone a significant transformation—from having little knowledge of vehicle systems to becoming capable of diagnosing faults, using modern scan tools, and explaining technical issues to customers.

He emphasized that beyond technical skills, the trainees were also equipped with discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to professional standards.

“As you step into internships, you will face real-world challenges—new workshops, demanding customers, and evolving vehicle technologies,” he told the graduates. “Stay curious, maintain strong character, and uphold the standards you have learned here.”

The graduates are expected to begin internships across various automotive workshops, where they will gain hands-on experience in an industry increasingly shaped by new technologies such as hybrid and electric vehicles.

Dr. Ubwa urged the trainees to act as ambassadors of the institution and its partners, reminding them that their performance would reflect not only on Auto360 but also on the broader national effort to strengthen technical education.

The event concluded with a charge to the graduates to demonstrate that Nigerian mechanics can compete globally by delivering quality service, solving complex problems, and building sustainable careers.

The Auto360 Class of 2026 now enters the workforce with what the company describes as “skill in their hands, knowledge in their heads, and grit in their hearts.”