The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has announced that switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) could slash railway maintenance costs by up to 70 percent.
Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NRC and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) Initiative over the weekend, Opeifa described the collaboration as a major milestone toward sustainable transportation in Nigeria.
“Today, we take another critical step towards a sustainable future for our railway industry,” Opeifa stated. “This partnership between NRC and Pi-CNG marks a significant step towards a cleaner, more efficient rail transportation system in Nigeria.”
The MoU covers key areas such as diesel-to-CNG retrofitting, distribution of CNG kits and materials, intermodal shuttle services, and capacity-building for diesel engine conversion.
Dr. Opeifa emphasized both economic and environmental benefits, noting that CNG not only reduces operational costs but also significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
“We strive to further reduce our carbon footprint by converting our locomotives and other diesel-powered equipment to CNG,” he said. He also revealed plans to convert the NRC training centre in Tejuosho into a CNG conversion hub, incorporating related training into its curriculum.
Programme Director of Pi-CNG, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, praised NRC’s technical know-how, especially in diesel-powered rail systems, calling it essential for scaling up CNG use across Nigeria’s transport network.
“This will not only reduce the cost of transporting goods and services, but also enhance security and mass transportation,” Oluwagbemi said, adding that the initiative aims to scale from 50,000 to 250,000 CNG-powered vehicles in its next phase.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s vision to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation through the use of cleaner, cheaper fuels. “A Renewed Hope for our citizenry is possible, and Pi-CNG is delivering on the President’s promise,” he affirmed.
Dr. Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), also threw her weight behind the initiative. “Transportation drives the economy; the sooner we get it right, the better for Nigeria,” she noted.
The partnership is expected to not only boost environmental sustainability but also trigger job creation and attract fresh investment into Nigeria’s transport and energy sectors.
