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Nigerian Govt Begins Free CNG Vehicle Conversions to Ease Fuel Costs

Published

3 months ago

Sep 16, 2024.

The Federal Government has initiated the free conversion of petrol-powered commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Zaria, Kaduna State.

In Ibadan, around 100 commercial vehicles were converted to CNG at three locations: Mobil filling station on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway, Automation Auto Gas in Podo Industrial Village, and Ajibode Retail Outlet on UI-Ojoo road.

This took place on Saturday as part of the government’s effort to ease the effects of fuel subsidy removal and promote cleaner energy.

Louisa Afu, Business Development Executive for the Presidential CNG initiative, emphasized that the distribution of conversion kits is aimed at helping vehicle owners in Ibadan and surrounding areas reduce fuel costs while contributing to a cleaner environment.

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She assured Nigerians that the exercise would extend nationwide, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to sustainable energy.

“We are here on behalf of the President to distribute 150 conversion kits and cylinders for commercial vehicles, as part of his effort to ease the burden on Nigerians,” Afu said. “CNG is cheaper, more sustainable, and safer. We have more gas than oil in Nigeria, making CNG a better fuel option. Any vehicle from 1996 onward can be converted to CNG.”

In separate comments, Ademola Adeoye and Kamorudeen Idowu, officials from the state’s Park Management System, praised the initiative, calling it a significant development for the transportation sector.

Meanwhile, a CNG user, Sowole Jayeola, who had converted his vehicle two months prior, stressed the cost savings, noting a reduction from N200,000–N250,000 on petrol monthly to just N25,000–N26,000 after the switch to CNG. He urged the government to lower conversion costs to encourage wider adoption.

CNG Vehicle

In Zaria, Kaduna State, the Federal Government launched the conversion of 50 commercial vehicles to CNG as part of the same initiative. Dauda Suleiman, the Team Lead for the CNG initiative at the National Institute for Transport Technology (NITT), explained that the program provides free conversion kits to commercial drivers, starting with 50 vehicles from various transport unions. He noted that the removal of petrol subsidies and the government’s focus on CNG stems from its abundance and lower cost.

“A kilogram of CNG costs N230 in Abuja and N455 in Kaduna, making it more affordable than petrol,” Suleiman said, adding that CNG also covers more distance per unit. He assured that the conversion kits would remain reasonably priced for those who don’t receive them for free and that efforts are underway to build more refilling stations nationwide.

The Chairman of the Zaria branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lawal Abdullahi, praised the initiative, citing the significant savings for vehicle owners, which would translate into lower transport fares and economic benefits. He revealed that 50 vehicles had already been converted, with 500 more members awaiting the service.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, at the launch of the initiative in Benin, Tosin Coker, Head of Commercial at the Presidential CNG Initiative, reiterated that the program aims to convert one million vehicles across Nigeria at no cost to owners, easing the burden of rising petrol prices and improving the cost of living for Nigerians.

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