Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Federal Government on Friday launched the Conversion Incentive Programme (CIP)of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Ogun State.
The programme under the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi) was put in place to convert vehicles using petrol to gas following the removal of fuel subsidy last year.
Speaking during the official launch of the programme and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with CNG conversion centers in Ogun State, the Chief Executive Officer and Programme Director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, said the programme is aimed at converting one million vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for free.
He commended the Ogun State for being a pioneer in adopting CNG for transportation.
Oluwagbemi added that the programme will partner with conversion centres, with four already signed up in Ogun State.
He explained that the centres will receive conversion kits purchased by the Federal Ministry of Finance for free, adding that members of NURTW, NARTO, RTEAN and other transport unions will be nominated to have their vehicles converted at no cost.
“What we are doing today is the beginning of the Compressed Natural Gas revolution in the transport sector in the country. Before the assumption of office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria was in energy and security poverty. 97 percent of revenue of the country was being used to service foreign debt and at the same time, incurring and accumulating debt petrol into the country.
“Today, 67 percent of revenue is being used to service debt. Yet, we still use a huge amount of money to import petrol that we do not refine.
“Daily demand for petrol by Nigerians ranges is estimated to be between 35 and 70 million litres. Subsidized petrol imported into the country is being smuggled to neighbouring countries.
“Meanwhile, gas is available in 30 of the 36 states in the country. Gas is easier and cheaper to process and cleaner to the environment. There are now over 123 CNG conversion centers across the country, It was just seven in 2023. I want to urge
Nigerians to adopt the initiative and convert from petrol to gas. Lower cost and cleaner energy will be made possible by converting to CNG”, Oluwagbemi stated.
He, however, disclosed that the Presidential Committee will make one million CNG convention kits free for commercial vehicles across the country.
“We are going to be working with the conversion centres partners and we signed up four of them here in Ogun State today.
“It’s going to be the 60th we’ve signed across Nigeria for the programme . The idea is that this conversion centre will get the conversion kit that the Federal Ministry of Finance has purchased for free.
“Transport unions such as the NURTW, NARTO, RTEAN and others will nominate 50 members each, who will have their vehicles converted to CNG for free.
“When that conversion starts, we will be able to fuel in any of the CNG refueling stations that are also present in Ogun State”, the P-CNGi programme director submitted.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Energy, Jide Onakoya, said the programme would be a game-changer for Ogun State, enabling citizens to switch from expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper gas.
He added that conversion to CNG would reduce pollution, enhance commerce, and improve transportation.
Also speaking, one of the conversion partners, Wale Adedotun, highlighted the benefits of gas over petrol, citing its safety features, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages.