President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of about 100,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion kits nationwide to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians, following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
The executive chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this after a meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, March 10.
Ahmed said the President’s directive is part of a broader push by the Federal Government to cut transportation costs and expand alternative energy use amid global oil market volatility triggered by the ongoing United States–Israel war with Iran.
“The President, as usual, is always trying to get information on what is going on, especially with the war in the Middle East and the rising cost of petrol and diesel,” Ahmed said. “He wanted to know what we are doing at 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.”he said
He confirmed that about 100,000 conversion kits would be rolled out over the next two to three weeks, enabling vehicle owners — including tricycle operators — to convert their engines to run on gas.
“So we have about 100,000 kits that we’re going to deploy in the next two to three weeks. The conversion centres will all be bustling with a lot of activities,” he added.
According to Ahmed, President Tinubu has also ordered an accelerated expansion of infrastructure for CNG refuelling and electric vehicle (EV) charging nationwide, with emphasis on key transport corridors in the northern region.
“We must be able to fast-track the infrastructure in bringing gas, CNG and electric mobility charging infrastructure to every part of the country, especially within the Northern Corridor,” he said
Ahmed revealed that a network of 77 CNG refuelling stations is currently under development across the country. In Kano, he said, two liquefied compressed natural gas (LCNG) stations are already operational, while several “daughter stations” are under construction.
He said the government is planning a chain of refuelling points along major transport routes from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano to Maiduguri.
“These are all places that we are going to litter with a lot of refuelling units,” Ahmed stated.
The Pi-CNG boss further announced that the initiative is partnering with both local and foreign manufacturers to enhance vehicle conversion and promote local assembly of CNG-powered and electric vehicles. Several manufacturers, he added, have expressed willingness to establish assembly plants in Nigeria — a move expected to create jobs and strengthen the local automotive sector.
Ahmed also disclosed ongoing collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to build solar-powered EV charging stations in off-grid areas.
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“People are already bringing in their electric vehicles regardless. What we have to do now is to ensure that there is enough infrastructure for them to work with, especially off-grid,” he explained.
He noted that President Tinubu expects the initiative to deliver quick results to make cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable transport options available to Nigerians.