The Federal Government has renewed its plan to deploy one million compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles across Nigeria to help reduce transportation costs. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the directive in Abuja while receiving progress reports from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat. He urged both bodies to accelerate investment in refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion programmes.
Ekpo said the government must translate its CNG policy into practical benefits for Nigerians, particularly lower transport fares following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the minister called for targeted interventions, expanded infrastructure and stronger programmes to increase the nationwide adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation.
The minister said Nigeria’s substantial natural gas reserves offered an opportunity to reduce transport expenses, increase domestic gas consumption and support economic growth. He stressed the need to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive to make transportation more affordable through CNG, adding that the government would continue to support efforts to expand the programme and improve access to gas-powered transport.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the initiative would increase investment in refuelling facilities and vehicle conversion services. He said the goal was to make CNG more accessible to transport operators and help reduce fares for millions of Nigerians. Ahmed added that a joint industry market study conducted by the Decade of Gas Secretariat had provided a framework for identifying infrastructure gaps, tracking progress and determining priority areas for investment.
Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed Ubong, described CNG as an important part of Nigeria’s energy transition and pledged continued support for the initiative. The Federal Government is promoting the fuel as a cheaper alternative to petrol, but the extent to which it reduces fares will depend on the availability of refuelling stations, affordable vehicle conversions, reliable gas supplies, and whether transport operators pass on savings to passengers.
