The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (P-CNGi) initiative commenced the installation of free CNG conversion kits on Saturday for commercial vehicles in Ogun State.
This move is part of the federal government’s broader commitment to converting one million petroleum-powered vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) by 2025.
The installations are a key component of the Conversion Incentive Programme (CIP) initiative.
The conversion process began at two workshops belonging to conversion partners who had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the P-CNGi.
A total of 110 conversion kits are expected to be installed on certified commercial vehicles, accompanied by 90 units of 65-liter CNG cylinders and 20 units of 75-liter cylinders.
Speaking at one of the conversion centers in Abeokuta, Ogun State’s capital, Adetimehin Olugboyega, a Director in the state’s Ministry of Transport, noted that commercial vehicles must undergo inspections to determine their eligibility for conversion.
He highlighted that a fully-filled 75-liter CNG cylinder can cover approximately 150 kilometers, thereby reducing transportation costs as envisioned by the federal government following the removal of fuel subsidies.
“The cylinder is molded, not welded, and is 60 mm thick, making it bulletproof, accident-proof, and safe from causing explosions,” Olugboyega explained.
“In Abeokuta, we have two refilling stations at the moment, and another one is operational in Ibafo. Installing a kit for a petrol engine takes about 4-5 hours, while for diesel engines, the process takes three days.”
Ali Manager, the Operations Manager of Nigerian Gas and Transport Solution Limited (NGTSL), a technical partner to P-CNGi, underscored the economic benefits of switching to gas-powered transportation.
“From my 17 years of experience in the gas industry, I can confidently say that if a taxi driver runs on gas for approximately two years, he will be able to buy a new car for himself. This system allows Nigeria to be independent in terms of energy, unlike countries that rely on imports, and it will bring significant positive change to the country,” he remarked.
Toyosi Oluwasesan, spokesperson for Nexgen Automobile, one of the conversion partners, confirmed that they had received 50 CNG conversion kits and trained three automobile technicians to handle the installations.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) also expressed its support for the initiative. Adewale Yàtò, the state chairman of NURTW, represented by Ahmed Bankole, commended the federal government for the P-CNG initiative.
Adewale emphasized that the use of CNG-powered vehicles will compel the union to reduce transportation fares across Ogun State.
