The shortage of sufficient filling stations is undermining the Nigerian government’s efforts to promote the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a less expensive and cleaner fuel substitute.
Due to the high cost of petrol in the nation, many drivers have started converting their vehicles, which has led to the CNG movement gaining momentum in recent months.
BuisnessDay reported that many Nigerians have compared the challenge of refilling their cars to “moving from fry pan to fire.”
Aisha Umar, an Abuja resident, said:
Similarly, Austin Richard worries about the few filling stations selling CNG across the country
He told TimesNow.com.ng,
The federal government put six refuelling stations into service in July 2024 to serve Abuja’s inhabitants. Others in Lagos state were also commissioned.
However, because drivers must travel great distances to reach these stations, they are no longer sufficient as CNG fueling stations are not available in some places.
Due to the lack of CNG stations, Henry Orji, a businessman at Abuja’s Gudu Market, said he has gone back to using gasoline to power his vehicle
According to BusinessDay’s research, many Nigerians are deterred by the exorbitant conversion cost. Depending on the vehicle’s size, conversion costs range from N600,000 to N1,200,000.
However, Michael Oluwagbemi, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) program coordinator, assured that the government was working on credit facilities that could lower the cost of conversion and that the private sector is now offering a variety of products to make CNG conversion affordable.
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) recently inked a collaboration agreement to establish a N10 billion Credit Access for Light and Mobility (CALM) fund.
TimesNow.com.ng reported that the Malaysian governmentâs decision to phase out compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles elicited strong responses in Nigeria as the country continues to push for a switch to CNG as a more affordable and cleaner alternative to petrol.
An earlier report said that Malaysiaâs transport minister, Loke Siew, announced different measures to phase out CNG use for vehicles amid safety concerns.
The minister disclosed that CNG-powered cars can no longer be registered, effective July 1, 2025.
Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at TimesNow.com.ng.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
