FG Targets 1,000 CNG Stations, Vows Cheaper Transport
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable alternative to conventional transport fuels.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the government’s efforts were aimed at reducing transportation costs, easing the burden of rising living expenses and improving economic productivity.
Ekpo, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, said more than $2 billion had been secured in private-sector investments for CNG infrastructure and value-chain development since the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) in 2023.
According to him, the investment has driven the expansion of refuelling stations, vehicle conversion centres, technical capacity and other infrastructure required to support the nationwide adoption of CNG.
He disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles had so far been converted to CNG through over 400 certified conversion centres, while more than 90 refuelling stations were now operational.
The minister added that the programme had trained more than 7,700 automotive technicians and generated over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He said the government had also procured and deployed 655 CNG buses and 5,123 CNG-powered tricycles, complementing thousands of privately converted vehicles currently operating across the country.
Ekpo noted that CNG had moved beyond being a prospective alternative fuel, describing it as an increasingly viable option already being used by commercial transport operators, private motorists and fleet managers.
He said the growing adoption of CNG was helping operators achieve fuel-cost savings and improved profitability, while commuters using CNG-powered buses were benefiting from lower fares.
The minister stressed that the government’s objective was not merely to increase the number of CNG vehicles and refuelling stations, but to ensure that the resulting fuel savings translated into lower transportation and logistics costs for Nigerians.
He said the government was collaborating with Pi-CNG, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), state governments, transport unions, operators, investors and other stakeholders to expand conversion and refuelling infrastructure.
The collaboration, he added, would also facilitate the development of dedicated CNG corridors and improve access to the fuel in underserved communities.
Ekpo commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the establishment of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations, which will increase the planned national network to 1,000 stations.
He said the expansion would improve access to CNG and accelerate its adoption nationwide.
The minister also commended state governors that had embraced the initiative through investments and partnerships, urging those yet to participate to key into the programme in the interest of Nigerians and the commuting public.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to work with investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate infrastructure deployment, deepen domestic gas utilisation and ensure that the benefits of the CNG programme reach citizens across the country.
