President Bola Tinubu has approved the nationwide rollout of about 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits as part of efforts to reduce the rising cost of transportation in Nigeria.
The directive was announced by Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), after a meeting with the president at the State House in Abuja.
Ahmed said the decision was influenced by the surge in fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving Iran and the United States and Israel. The situation has pushed petrol prices in Nigeria above N1,000 per litre, increasing transportation costs across the country.
According to him, the conversion kits will allow vehicle owners and tricycle operators to modify their engines so they can run on compressed natural gas instead of petrol. The rollout is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks.
Ahmed explained that the government is also expanding infrastructure to support gas-powered transportation. He noted that dozens of CNG refuelling stations are currently under development across the country.
Some facilities are already operating in Kano, including two Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas stations, while additional refuelling points are being built in several locations.
The government plans to establish a corridor of gas refuelling stations along major highways linking Lokoja, Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano and Maiduguri to make CNG more accessible to transport operators.
Ahmed also revealed that the initiative is working with both local and international manufacturers to promote vehicle conversions and encourage the local assembly of CNG-powered and electric vehicles. He said several companies have shown interest in setting up production lines in Nigeria, a development that could create jobs and strengthen the country’s automotive sector.
The push for alternative fuel options comes amid fluctuating petrol prices. Earlier this week, petrol prices at the Dangote Refinery rose sharply before being reduced again following changes in global oil prices.
