Uche Cecil Izuora
Nigeria has stepped up conversations and partnerships towards expanding conversion of vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
This follows a pivotal workshop in Lagos, by Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) which marks a significant step towards the country’s transition to cleaner fuel alternatives.
Stakeholders from the energy and transport sectors gathered to discuss strategies for converting diesel-powered vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), a cleaner and cost-effective alternative.
The workshop featured training sessions for auto technicians, expert-led panels on regulatory frameworks, infrastructure readiness, and financing schemes for CNG conversion projects. Coordinator of the P-CNGi Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, emphasised the federal government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, tackling air pollution, and creating green jobs through CNG adoption.
“We are not just retrofitting engines—we are reimagining Nigeria’s energy future,” Oluwagbemi declared.
He also reiterated that when the programme started that the adoption rate was low.
“At the point of rolling out the P-CNGi we have less than 4000 CNG vehicles but today the number is now approaching 100,000. Recently you saw Dangote group announce that they have launched 4000 fleets of new CNG trucks to ferry their petroleum products. These are testimonies that people are beginning to adopt CNG,” Oluwagbemi said.
The Chief Executive Officer of an Energy company Iyke Nanka, on his part, said that CNG vehicles are very safe if the installation is done properly by certified conversion centres contrary to the general public perception.
“If the installation is done properly I don’t see any reason for anyone to be scared that a CNG cylinder can explode. CNG cylinder is bulletproof, nothing can penetrate it” He further said that the CNG cylinder is stored inside a steel-built cylinder that is protected by a solenoid valve.
“A solenoid valve works in a way that if there is any impact, maybe someone hits you from the back the solenoid shuts off the supply of gas to the installation and the engine which prevents any kind of explosion,”Nanka said.
The workshop’s practical approach and alignment with Nigeria’s decarbonization agenda received positive feedback from attendees.
As the P-CNGi Initiative ramps up in Lagos, the workshop signals growing momentum for cleaner fuel adoption and a greener future for Nigeria’s mobility