The federal government has commenced the distribution of the CNG conversion kits nationwide.
The move, it said, was part of efforts by the government to fast track the change from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
Programme Director Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) Michael Oluwagbemi said a total of 1,200-1,300 will be distributed in some 5 cities.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing weekend in Abuja, Oluwagbemi said 50 kits each will be distributed across 18 centres in the country with 200 kits to be added.
The conversion centres in the FCT are: NIPCO Oil and Gas Station Airport Road, Kia Motors at Utako, Mijo Gas Auto in Jahi, ABG CNG, Kubwa, Bovas Filling station, Wuse Zone 5 and C&L Mart Energy Solutions Ltd at Lokogoma,
Oluwagbemi said the CNG initiative by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would provide cheaper and cleaner vehicle fueling alternatives for Nigerians.
“The President has assured us that we are making one million conversion kits available for free for the commercial sector or at reasonable discounts for the private vehicles.
“This is to enable transportation fare to be moderated across the country over the next couple of years.
“Of course, it is technically and logistically tasking to get the kits across to Nigerians because the kits must be installed in these vehicles and they have to be done in a way that is safe and reliable as well,” he said.
The programme director further explained that a total of 6000-7000 kits have been distributed to conversion centres.
“We are expecting an additional 12,000 kits in the next 30 days, 18,000 by the end of the year, and 200,000 kits before the end of the first quarter of 2025,” he said.
Oluwagbemi further said that the government had signed agreements with over 75 conversion partners officially in eight states including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, FCT, and Kaduna.
“These eight states are the ones where the conversion incentive program has kicked off. In the next six to eight weeks, we’ll be having additional nine states.
“The states to be included are Kwara, Ekiti. Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Kano, and Niger. These states will be joining the category of states where we have activated the programme,” he said.
…Job benefits
Oluwagbemi noted that when the programme fully takes off, it hopes to generate 100,000 jobs in addition to other economic benefits.
“We estimate that with these 1 million conversions, 100,000 direct jobs will be created, 250,000 technicians needed to be enabled across one thousand conversion centres. We will need 2,300 refueling stations amongst several others.
“Our goal is to deliver lower cost of transportation to them by using what Nigerians have – which is gas – to enable the Nigerian economy.
“We are working day and night to ensure that the President’s promise to Nigerians of a cleaner, safer, more reliable gas future away from our addition to petrol and diesel. We will continue to engage with Nigerians on the need to engage CNG use,” he added.
At ABG CNG conversion centre along Kubwa-Zuba expressway, Engr Masud Ya’u told journalists that before any vehicle is converted, they would first check it to ensure it meets the standard for conversion.
He said: “We will see the car, we will test it, we will test all the connections of your car whether it can take the conversion. When the car passes the test then we can begin the conversion.
“If the car has a plug problem, coil problem or any other problem, we won’t convert that car until the owner fixes it. We cannot fix the problem before converting because it is a mechanical problem.”
A resident of Masaka in Nasarawa State, Mohammed Jibril, who was at NIPCO filling station to refill his CNG cylinders, told journalists that the CNG initiative is a game changer for motorists.
According to him, with the use of CNG, the average Nigerian driver will cut down on the amount spent on fuel.
“While I was using fuel, it was not easy but right now, I think CNG is doing well. Then, every 3 days, I spend N130, 000 for fuel but right now in a week, I hardly spend N50, 000.
“It is a very good initiative; I want Nigerians to key into it because it’s wonderful. The government should help to create more stations. Sometimes when I come to this place I spend like 3 hours before getting it,” he said.
…The Kaduna example
In Kaduna, Kaduna state, Blueprint reports that 150 commercial vehicles t were already set for conversion.
At the weekend, three accredited conversion centers in Kaduna received free conversion kits, including cylinders and other necessary accessories from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi).
The handover of the conversion kits took place at Rolling Energy, one of the conversion centers located along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
Coordinator of Logistics and Supply Chain for P-CNGi, Mr. Thomas Ayu, said the programme aims to support commercial transporters by converting their vehicles to a more efficient and economical energy source.
“This programme is a partnership between the Federal Government and private companies like Rolling Energy, which are converting vehicles on behalf of the government. CNG is cheaper, cleaner, and safer compared to fuel, and we want Nigerians, particularly those in the transport sector, to embrace it,” Ayu said.
He further added that 150 vehicles in Kaduna were set to be converted for free, with plans to distribute over 10,000 kits across the country in the coming months.
He, however, noted that the current phase of the program is focused solely on “commercial transporters, excluding private vehicles for now.”
Lead Station and Technical Services at Rolling Energy, Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed that the center had already screened 50 vehicles and was fully prepared for the conversion process.
The initiative is expected to ease the burden on the transport sector by reducing operating costs and promoting cleaner energy.