In response to rising transportation costs driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, President Bola Tinubu has instructed the rapid deployment of 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits across Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), following a meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja. Ahmed explained that Tinubu is closely monitoring global developments and their direct impact on Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly fuel prices.
“The President has directed the Pi-CNG initiative to fast-track the rollout of CNG infrastructure and alternative mobility solutions nationwide,” Ahmed said.
The CNG kits will allow vehicle owners, including tricycle operators, to convert petrol engines to gas, reducing reliance on increasingly expensive petrol. The deployment is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks.
Ahmed also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the country’s CNG and electric vehicle infrastructure. Currently, 77 CNG refilling stations are at various stages of development nationwide, including two operational Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) stations in Kano, with additional “daughter stations” under construction.
Plans are underway to establish a chain of refuelling points along major transport corridors from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, and Maiduguri.
To support vehicle conversion and the local assembly of CNG-powered and electric vehicles, Pi-CNG is collaborating with both local and international manufacturers. Several companies have expressed interest in establishing assembly lines in Nigeria, a development expected to boost job creation and strengthen the local automotive industry.
This initiative comes as petrol prices in Nigeria soar past ₦1,000 per litre amid tensions between Iran and the United States/Israel. On Monday, the Dangote Refinery raised petrol prices to ₦1,175 per litre, up from ₦995 on March 7 and ₦874 on March 2, though prices were slightly reduced on Tuesday.
