President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas conversion kits within the next two to three weeks to cushion the impact of rising petrol and diesel costs on Nigerians, following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this on Tuesday after meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja.
Global Conflict, Local Impact
Ahmed revealed that the ongoing war in the Middle East and its effect on global petroleum prices informed the President’s directive, as rising international crude prices have translated into increased transportation costs for ordinary Nigerians.
“The President, as usual, is always trying to get information on what is going on, and especially with the war in the Middle East and the rising cost of petrol and diesel,” Ahmed stated.
He explained that Tinubu sought detailed updates on the Pi-CNG and Electric Vehicle programme’s efforts to scale up gas availability nationwide as a cheaper alternative to premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil.
“The President wanted to know what we are doing at the Pi-CNG and EV to scale up the availability of gas and CNG everywhere in the country so that people would have less cost of transportation,” Ahmed said.
Mass Conversion Mandate
Following the briefing, Tinubu issued a direct mandate for the rapid deployment of conversion kits to make natural gas accessible as an immediate alternative to petrol and diesel.
“So the President has given a direct mandate that we should immediately deploy about 100,000 kits,” Ahmed disclosed.
“We are working with so many other stakeholders that would incentivise and get it into the market immediately and be able to convert a lot of vehicles and tricycles for people to be able to access gas.”
The Pi-CNG boss emphasised that deployment would commence within two to three weeks, with conversion centres expected to become “bustling with a lot of conversion activities” across the country.
Northern Corridor Priority
The President specifically directed the Pi-CNG to fast-track infrastructure development for gas refilling stations and electric vehicle charging points, with particular focus on the Northern corridor.
Ahmed revealed that 77 refilling stations are currently at different stages of development nationwide, with significant progress recorded in Kano State, where two LCNG stations and approximately five to six daughter stations are coming up.
“Along the corridors, from Lokoja all the way to Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, all the way to Maiduguri, these are all places that we are going to litter with a lot of refuelling units,” Ahmed stated.
Local Manufacturing Push
Beyond immediate deployment, Ahmed disclosed that the initiative is partnering with domestic manufacturers and attracting international manufacturers interested in setting up assembly lines in Nigeria.
“Absolutely, that’s where we’re dealing with partnering with a lot of local manufacturers, and even international manufacturers want to set up assembly lines in Nigeria,” he said.
“That is the goal, because it’s about job creation, it’s about availability.”
Infrastructure for Electric Mobility
The Pi-CNG is also collaborating with the Rural Electrification Agency to deploy solar-powered charging stations across the country, recognising that Nigerians are already importing electric vehicles independently.
“What you have to do for them now is to be able to make sure that there is enough infrastructure for them to work with this, especially off-grid,” Ahmed explained.
Cost Relief for Nigerians
CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol, with a litre equivalent costing approximately 60 to 70 per cent less than premium motor spirit, offering substantial relief to Nigerians grappling with high transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, launched by Tinubu in 2023, aims to convert one million vehicles to CNG and establish refilling infrastructure nationwide, making the alternative fuel widely accessible to Nigerians.
“The President wants results delivered very quickly so that Nigerians will be able to access the CNG and electric mobility,” Ahmed concluded.
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