OAU Gets Integrated CNG Refuelling Hub

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has inaugurated an integrated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling facility, a move hailed by stakeholders as a strategic step toward embedding Nigeria’s gas transition agenda within federal universities.

The facility, commissioned by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), is part of a nationwide initiative to deploy CNG infrastructure across 20 federal universities through equity partnerships with private investors, including FEMADEC Energy Limited.

According to MDGIF Executive Director Oluwole Adama, the project goes beyond a campus transport solution, serving as a “practical demonstration” of Nigeria’s gas-based energy transition. “This project represents progress, partnership, and purpose in advancing cleaner fuels and deepening domestic gas utilization in line with national energy objectives,” he said.

The OAU hub is designed as hybrid infrastructure combining CNG refuelling, vehicle conversion services, and transport deployment within a controlled academic environment. It is expected to create a living laboratory for research, innovation, and practical learning in alternative fuels.

Speaking on the project, OAU Vice-Chancellor Adebayo Simeon Bamire stated, “This initiative will serve both the university and the surrounding community. It will foster research opportunities, practical learning, and innovation in alternative fuels, while promoting sustainable transport and shared economic value.”

The initiative marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s energy transition strategy, demonstrating how federal universities can lead in research, sustainability, and community engagement through strategic infrastructure development.