Stakeholders Fume Over Scarcity Of CNG Conversion, Filling Centres

Stakeholders have expressed frustration over the scarcity of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres and refuelling stations across the country despite increased awareness of CNG as an alternative fuel.

Nigeria’s plan to transition from petrol to CNG as a cleaner and more affordable fuel alternative is facing significant challenges. The scarcity of CNG conversion centres and inadequate filling stations have left stakeholders frustrated and uncertain about the future of this initiative.

There are currently only 51 CNG refuelling stations nationwide. Participants at the unveiling of the Workers’ Charter of Demand on Just Transition, organized by Friedrich Ebert Shifting (FES) in Lagos, expressed their dissatisfaction with this development and called on the government to partner with energy stakeholders to address the issue.

The participants had earlier raised concerns about precarious working conditions and called for better work environments to enable good governance.

In his keynote address at the event, Tunde Salman, consultant convener of the Good Governance Team Nigeria, noted that the delay in providing more CNG conversion centres and refuelling stations was undermining the federal government’s gas project, which would have played a key role in fostering a conducive environment for Nigerian workers.

He emphasized that the recently introduced CNG initiative is one tangible benefit of good governance and added that urgent attention is needed to fast-track its implementation.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has been instrumental in expanding CNG adoption, with over 170 conversion centres established nationwide. Michael Oluwagbemi, the national coordinator and chief executive of the PCNGI, said the government aims to increase this number to 500 by the end of the year.

Regarding the number of refuelling stations, Oluwagbemi mentioned plans to raise the number to 150 CNG stations by the end of 2025. Despite these efforts, the current scarcity of filling stations remains a significant challenge for the widespread adoption of CNG in Nigeria.

However, the government faces criticism for not adequately addressing the infrastructure needs for CNG. Stakeholders argue that the initiative will struggle to achieve its targets without sufficient refuelling stations.