The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) has highlighted progress in Nigeria’s compressed natural gas (CNG) programme, asserting that the scheme is thriving and attracting substantial investments despite the challenges associated with its nascent stage.
In response to media reports claiming supply shortages and infrastructure gaps, the PCNGI described the claims as alarmist and unbalanced, emphasising the rapid progress made since the programme’s launch in May 2024 under the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
“CNG adoption has grown from just 4,000 vehicles to over 50,000 in under a year, with projections to reach 100,000 soon. Naturally, queues at CNG stations are expected because of this unprecedented increase, driven by incentives and the economic benefits of switching to CNG,” said Michael Oluwagbemi, the program director/chief executive officer of the PCNGI, in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Oluwagbemi highlighted the ongoing efforts by public and private stakeholders to scale up infrastructure to meet surging demand.
According to him, over 175 new CNG stations are being developed by various partners. Recently, two stations were commissioned in Abuja by AY Shafa and Femadec, with the latter planning to introduce an additional 21 stations and establish CNG ecosystems in 20 universities.
Oluwagbemi added that Greenville is spearheading developments in the North and Southeast, with 51 stations planned, while companies like Bovas and NIPCO are rolling out ultra-modern CNG stations, many of which are set to go live within months.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), he said, is expanding its network, with eight new stations under construction and another 40 in its Phase 2 rollout plan.
The PCNGI estimates that over $500 million has been invested in the CNG sector within a year, creating more than 10,000 direct jobs and establishing 255 new vehicle conversion centres.
Oluwagbemi noted that these developments align with President Tinubu’s vision of creating a sustainable and affordable energy ecosystem. “The President’s vision is to incentivise CNG and EV adoption, facilitate investments into the alternative energy sector, and regulate the emerging market for rapid growth,” he said.
While acknowledging challenges, including infrastructure gaps and supply chain issues, the PCNGI described them as natural hurdles in the early stages of a transformative program.
“Engineering feats take time. It took over seventy years to get addicted to petrol and diesel; it will take more than seven months to be weaned off the addiction,” Oluwagbemi stated, urging patience from Nigerians.
The PCNGI also criticised media outlets for focusing on setbacks rather than progress. “We plead patience with sceptics and urge the media to focus on positive stories of empowerment and enablement instead of promoting negative narratives that hinder progress,” he said.
The PCNGI reaffirmed its dedication to President Tinubu’s directive, with Oluwagbemi stating, “We remain committed to our mandate while working hard across the value chain to deliver the sustainable transportation solutions promised by Mr. President.”
As infrastructure projects progress across the country, the PCNGI is optimistic about meeting the growing demand for CNG vehicles and stations. “Rome was not built in a day, and CNG will take more than a few days,” Oluwagbemi concluded.
