By Hosea Parah
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption nationwide, saying increased use of the cheaper and cleaner fuel will help reduce transportation costs and ease the pressure of rising living expenses on Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, stressing that CNG had moved beyond being a future alternative to becoming an increasingly viable fuel already powering vehicles across the country.
According to the Minister, more than $2 billion in private-sector investment has been secured for CNG infrastructure and value-chain development since the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) in 2023.
He said the investment had accelerated the development of refuelling stations, vehicle conversion centres, technical capacity and other infrastructure required to support nationwide CNG adoption.
Ekpo disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG through over 400 certified conversion centres, while more than 90 refuelling stations are currently supporting the emerging CNG ecosystem.
He added that the programme had trained more than 7,700 automotive technicians, created over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, and facilitated the procurement and deployment of 655 CNG buses and 5,123 CNG tricycles.
The Minister said the figures complemented thousands of privately converted vehicles currently operating within Nigeria’s public and commercial transport networks.
He explained that the growing adoption of CNG was providing practical relief to transport operators, private vehicle owners and fleet managers through lower fuel costs and improved profitability.
According to him, commuters using CNG-powered buses are also beginning to benefit from reduced fares, while businesses, farmers, traders and other productive sectors stand to gain from lower transportation and logistics expenses.
“The objective is not simply to increase the number of CNG vehicles and refuelling stations, but to translate fuel savings into lower transportation and logistics costs, ease the cost of living and improve economic productivity,” the Minister stated.
To sustain the momentum, Ekpo said the Ministry was collaborating with Pi-CNG, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), state governments, transport unions, operators, investors and other stakeholders to expand conversion and refuelling infrastructure.
He said efforts were also underway to develop dedicated CNG corridors and extend access to communities currently underserved by the infrastructure.
The Minister commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the establishment of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations, which he said would bring the planned national network to 1,000 stations.
He noted that the expansion would improve access to CNG and accelerate its adoption across the country.
Ekpo also commended state governors who had embraced the programme through investments and partnerships, urging states yet to key into the initiative to do so in the interest of Nigerians and the commuting public.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to work with investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate infrastructure deployment, deepen domestic gas utilisation and ensure that the benefits of the CNG programme reach citizens at the grassroots.