Nigeria’s push for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption has attracted over N1.5 trillion in investments within the last year and a half, according to the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi).

Speaking at the commissioning of the Portland Gas Ltd/NASENI CNG Daughter Station and Auto Conversion Training Centre in Abuja, PCNGi Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, revealed that the sector had seen inflows of about $980 million. He said leading firms such as BUA Group and the Nigerian Bottling Company have jointly committed more than N720 billion into procuring CNG-powered trucks and developing over 100 filling stations nationwide.

Oluwagbemi noted that the uptake of CNG vehicles has grown rapidly, climbing from just 4,000 units to about 100,000 within 18 months. He described the transition as the fastest-growing energy shift in Nigeria, emphasizing that motorists save up to 90 percent on fuel costs by switching to CNG. However, he warned against diverting CNG allocated for automobiles to power plants, stressing the need to safeguard supply for transportation.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive of Portland Gas Ltd, Folajimi Mohammed, described the new station as an all-in-one gas hub. He explained that the facility combines a refilling point, auto-conversion workshop, and training centre, alongside approval to retail liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for household use.

On his part, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Agency for Gas Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu, said the Kubwa expressway location was chosen to enhance accessibility. He added that the government is working with private operators to ensure CNG outlets are strategically sited across the country, easing mobility for Nigerians.

The PCNGi boss maintained that the growth of the CNG market demonstrates strong investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy transition plan, describing it as a clear step toward reducing reliance on petrol and cutting transportation costs.