The Federal Government has renewed efforts to deploy one million Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles nationwide as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the financial burden on Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the directive in Abuja while receiving progress reports from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.
Ekpo urged both bodies to accelerate investments in refuelling stations, vehicle conversion centres and other critical infrastructure to facilitate the nationwide adoption of CNG.
He said the initiative was designed to translate the Federal Government’s autogas policy into tangible benefits for Nigerians, particularly through reduced transportation costs following the removal of petrol subsidy.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources presented an opportunity to lower transport costs, increase domestic gas consumption and stimulate economic growth.
He also disclosed that domestic gas consumption had exceeded two billion cubic feet per day for the first time in the country’s history, describing the development as an opportunity to expand gas utilisation across critical sectors.
The Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the initiative would intensify investment in refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion programmes to make CNG more accessible to transport operators.
Ahmed added that a joint industry market study conducted by the Decade of Gas Secretariat would guide implementation, identify infrastructure gaps and accelerate the nationwide rollout.
The Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, reaffirmed the secretariat’s commitment to promoting domestic gas utilisation and supporting the initiative.
The Federal Government has continued to promote CNG as a cheaper alternative to petrol, although its impact on transport fares will depend on adequate infrastructure, affordable vehicle conversions and the willingness of transport operators to pass savings on to commuters.
