Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), James Ekperikpe, has said the federal government has taken measures to build more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in the country.
The minister stated this during yesterday’s House Ad-hoc Committee’s investigative hearing on implementing the CNG Policy in Abuja.
Represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Vitalis Ibe, the minister said the initiative, which is pocket-friendly, will help combat the issues of climate change and reduce emissions, among other challenges.
He said that more Nigerians are embracing CNG, which is safer, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly.
The project director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) in Nigeria, Michael Oluwagbemi, said Nigeria currently has 300 conversion centres from the initial seven centres.
He said the initiative has partnerships with different sectors in Nigeria to convert their vehicles for free. He added that it has zero tolerance for corruption, and two staff members who were found wanting have been sacked in the last few months.
Oluwagbemi assured the committee that states yet to benefit from the initiative will be reached soon, saying it has been and will continue to train more youths to participate in the conversation as it prepares to commence phase two of the programme.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Workers Employees Association of Nigeria, and other stakeholders at the hearing commended the CNG initiative. Still, it appealed to the government to ensure that all states benefit from it.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen said the Compressed Natural Gas Policy is a key component of the nation’s energy transition agenda.
The Speaker said the initiative represents a strategic shift towards cleaner, safer, and more economically viable alternatives to conventional fossil fuels, especially in our transportation sector.
Abbas, who was represented by the Member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Hon Sada Soli, said that with Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves, the promotion of CNG as a motor fuel is not only logical but also vital to achieving our broader goals of energy security, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification.
“Our concern is not just about the intentions of the policy, but the mechanisms of its execution — are the funds appropriated being judiciously utilised?
“Are Nigerians feeling the impact? Are safety and environmental standards being upheld? Are stakeholders adequately carried along?
“This hearing is, therefore, a platform to hear directly from the relevant MDAs, operators, industry experts, and the Nigerian people. It is also an opportunity for accountability and constructive dialogue on how to ensure the successful rollout of the CNG policy in the interest of national development,” he added.
