Lagos, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas to deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide as part of efforts to cushion the impact of soaring petrol prices and expand access to cheaper fuel alternatives.
Okay News reports that the directive was disclosed by PiCNG Executive Chairman Ismael Ahmed after a closed-door meeting with the President on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Ahmed stated that the President requested an update on the progress of the CNG programme and measures being taken to mitigate the effects of rising global petroleum prices, particularly amid growing tensions in the Middle East.
Ahmed explained that the kits would allow vehicle owners, including tricycle operators, to convert their engines to run on compressed natural gas. He added that the conversion programme is expected to commence soon as preparations are already underway across designated centres nationwide, with conversion centres expected to become bustling with activity as large-scale vehicle conversions begin.
The initiative is also scaling up infrastructure required to support the transition to gas-powered transportation, with about 77 refuelling stations at various stages of development across the country. Kano already has two Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas stations, while additional daughter stations are under development along major transport corridors linking Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna and Zaria, and further north to Kano and Maiduguri.
The Presidential CNG Initiative was introduced in 2023 as a key component of Nigeria’s energy transition strategy following the removal of petrol subsidies. The deployment comes amid recent petrol price volatility, with Dangote Refinery raising its ex-depot price to N1,175 per litre before reducing it to N1,075. This CNG conversion kits rollout aims to reduce dependence on petrol and promote gas as a cheaper, cleaner energy option for transportation across Nigeria.
