The Federal Government has renewed plans to deploy one million compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles nationwide as part of efforts to lower transportation costs and reduce commuters’ financial burden.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the directive in Abuja while reviewing progress made by the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.

Ekpo urged both bodies to accelerate investment in refuelling facilities, expand vehicle conversion programmes and identify measures that would encourage more Nigerians to adopt CNG as an alternative to petrol.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, the minister said the government was committed to ensuring that its gas policy delivers practical benefits, particularly by making transportation more affordable following the removal of petrol subsidy.

He noted that Nigeria’s substantial natural gas reserves provided an opportunity to reduce fuel expenses, increase domestic gas consumption and support economic growth.

Ekpo also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s directive to make transportation cheaper through the adoption of CNG, assuring officials of continued support to advance the initiative.

Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the programme would intensify efforts to expand refuelling infrastructure and increase the number of vehicles converted to run on natural gas.

The government is promoting CNG as a potentially cheaper alternative to petrol, particularly for commercial transport operators whose fuel expenses affect the fares charged to passengers.

However, the extent to which the initiative can reduce transport costs will depend on the availability of refuelling stations, affordable conversion services, a reliable gas supply and whether operators pass the savings on to commuters.