AETSL PARTNERS WITH AFIT TO ACTUALISE THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS INITIATIVE
The Aeronautical Engineering and Technical ServicesLimited (AETSL), has commenced preparations to actualise the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative in line with the national strategy to reduce transportation costs, cut fuel subsides, and promote cleaner energy use. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AETSL, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ignatious Ilo, disclosed this when he paid a collaborative visit to the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Air Vice Marshal SL Rabe. According to him, AFIT has the intellectual capacity and technical manpower to developand produce gas conversion and installation kits that are critical to the implementation of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative. He reassured the Institute’s Research Team made up of seasoned research professors of AETSL’s support in the conduct of relevant research work that would facilitate the production of the technical kits.
AVM NI Ilo stated that AFIT, as a research and an engineering institution, was more suitable and qualified tocollaborate with AETSL on this laudable project. He added that his organization considered AFIT most suitable based on its track record in research and innovation, especially the contribution of the Institute to the in-country periodic depot maintenance of aircraft and associated equipment. According to him, AETSL intends to expand its operations and portfolio to include energy and investment into the presidential initiative on the development of CNG infrastructure in support of Nigeria’s energy transition programme.
The AFIT Deputy Commandant, Air Vice Marshal AlbertBot, who represented the Commandant assured AETSL of the Institute’s readiness to collaborate with it on the CNG project. AVM Bot stated that AFIT was a research-based institution committed to innovation and technological advancement especially in the engineering field. He recalled that AFIT had performed several technical feats in the past including the production of the first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle in Nigeria. He therefore expressed the willingness of AFIT to support the Company to achieve its set objectives in the energy sector, adding that the plan to delve into the compressed natural gas business environment would benefit the country and other African countries. The meeting had in attendance seasoned professors, Deans, Directors and Principal Staff Officers of the Institute.
Bassey Ibiang Okon PhD
Wing Commander
Director of Public Relations
Air Force Institute of Technology
18 August 2025
