Scarcity, Queues Threaten CNG Adoption Despite 75% Fuel Cost Savings, Commercial Drivers Insist

BY ABIODUN SIVOWAKU, OLAMIDE OJUOKAIYE AND ANDREW OJIEZEL, Lagos

Commercial vehicle operators using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) have reported significant savings in fuel costs, with some saying they spend more than 75 per cent less than petrol users, even as the scarcity of dispensing stations and long queues continue to hamper wider adoption.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP on their experiences, CNG users said the cheaper cost of the fuel has substantially improved their daily earnings and reduced operating expenses, but warned that inadequate infrastructure remains a major challenge.

For instance, a tricycle operator at the NNPC Ashade Junction, Agege, Boluwatife Ojo, described CNG as a lifeline for commercial drivers, saying its affordability had significantly reduced his daily expenditure.

“For me, CNG is very good. It’s economical for us, the users, and we don’t spend money on filling up like those who use petrol. The only challenge we have is staying in the queue for a long period to get the gas,” Ojo said.

According to him, while petrol sells for between N1,250 and N1,310 per litre, CNG costs about N380 per unit, making it substantially cheaper for commercial operators.

Ojo said he spends about N1,700 to fill his tricycle with CNG in the morning, compared with about N7,000 spent by a petrol-powered operator.

“I fill my keke napep in the morning with N1,700, while someone using petrol will spend N7,000, and that won’t even be the end. Daily, I make between N25,000 and N30,000 using CNG. The person using petrol will have to spend more than N20,000 buying fuel to make the amount,” he said.

He, however, expressed concern over the limited number of CNG dispensing stations, noting that users have to travel to a few locations across Lagos to access the fuel.

“We get gas at Ojota, Agidingbi, Agege, Mangoro, Toll Gate or Mushin. So you can see the few stations offering the service compared to the population size,” he said.

Another CNG user, Taiwo Enitan, also said the cost advantage over petrol was obvious, but lamented the poor availability of the fuel.

“To be sincere, CNG is cheaper when compared with fuel. N380 per unit compared with petrol at N1,270 per litre. The difference is clear. The distance I cover with a unit of CNG is greater than what I get from a litre of petrol,” Enitan said.

He said the situation was particularly frustrating in Agege, where he claimed only two stations were available to serve a large number of vehicles.

“As big as Agege is, you can only get two gas stations. One at Pen Cinema under the bridge and the other at Ashade Junction, serving numerous cars,” he said.

Enitan also identified low gas pressure during refilling as another challenge faced by CNG users, saying weak pressure could reduce the quantity of gas dispensed into a vehicle’s cylinder.

“At the gas station, just like you see fuel prices and litre measurements displayed at petrol stations, you also see the pressure reading when filling gas. If the pressure does not reach 200, it will not fill the cylinder enough for you to move,” he said.

He, however, described the pressure challenge as manageable, noting that vehicles could still be filled when the pressure was sufficient.

For e-hailing driver, Michael Edomioyo, the major challenge is the high upfront cost of converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG, coupled with inadequate dispensing stations.

“For me, the only issue is the cost of retrofitting. Apart from that, everything else is good. I retrofitted my car for N800,000 last year, and I have been enjoying it,” he said.

Edomioyo said the limited operating hours of CNG stations also restrict the number of hours commercial and e-hailing drivers can work.

“There are not enough stations to fill gas around. The ones selling close for the day by 7pm. We don’t see gas stations working late at night like petrol stations,” he said.

According to him, drivers also lose productive hours while waiting in queues, with the process sometimes taking between two and three hours.

“We waste precious time queuing just to get gas. Sometimes it takes two hours, and at other times three hours. Getting gas on Sundays is like a living nightmare,” he said.

He added that the limited operating hours could directly affect drivers’ income, particularly those who depend on extended working hours.

“If I decide to work late into the night, I cannot, because no station operates beyond 7pm,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Edomioyo said his experience with CNG had been largely positive, citing lower operating costs, engine performance and environmental benefits.

He said CNG had helped reduce carbon-related deposits in his vehicle and described the fuel as relatively safe.

“I service my car every month, and when I check the engine oil before changing it, it still looks as clean and clear as when I first poured it in 30 days earlier. It also helps my engine,” he said.

Edomioyo called for increased investment in CNG infrastructure, particularly the establishment of more dispensing stations, saying this would make the fuel more accessible to motorists and improve its adoption.

“We need the government and more investors to put more money into CNG stations because CNG is good. I can say that from experience,” he said.

The drivers’ experiences underscore CNG’s cost-saving potential for Nigeria’s transport sector, while also highlighting infrastructure and accessibility gaps that could slow the transition from petrol to the cheaper alternative.

A visit to NIPCO CNG station at Ibafo, Ogun State, showed that the facility was busy, with several vehicles queuing to refill their tanks.

However, the operator assured customers that there was no cause for alarm, saying it had sufficient supply to meet the needs of motorists.

Speaking, a commercial bus driver simply known as Mr Emeka, said the outlet operates a flexible payment system based on customers’ purchasing capacity.

According to them, motorists are not required to buy a fixed quantity of CNG, as customers can purchase according to the amount of money available to them.

“We are not governed by a fixed price here. You buy according to what your money can afford. If you want to refill the entire tank or buy a small quantity, it depends on each customer. The policy is to buy as much as you can afford,” he said.