The Malaysian government’s decision to phase out the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles by July 2025 has sparked a notable response in Nigeria, where the government has been advocating for CNG as a safer and more affordable alternative to petrol.
Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook announced that starting July 1, 2025, CNG vehicles would no longer be registered in Malaysia, citing safety concerns linked to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) usage.
Loke explained that the CNG vehicles in question, numbering only 44,383 and making up just 0.2% of Malaysia’s vehicles, were approaching the end of their service life.
He emphasized the need to replace the NGV tanks, which typically have a 15-year safe usage period.
In response to the development, Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that Malaysia’s decision was centered on safety concerns related to LPG, not CNG.
Onanuga pointed out that Malaysia’s conversion program had struggled over the past 15 years, achieving only a 0.2% shift away from petrol and diesel vehicles, whereas Nigeria had made considerable progress in CNG adoption.
Onanuga, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), explained, “The Malaysian issue relates to the safety of LPG, NOT CNG. In the original report, Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated, ‘There are also some car owners who have modified their vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which are very dangerous.'”
He further noted that Nigeria’s focus was on CNG, which was deemed a safer option compared to LPG. “Nigeria’s transition has adopted CNG ONLY, not both, due to valid safety and cost concerns regarding LPG,” he added.
The spokesperson also highlighted that Malaysia’s CNG program had faced significant challenges, with just a 0.2% conversion rate over 15 years. In contrast, countries like India, China, Iran, and Egypt have seen more substantial progress in adopting CNG.
“The end of the 15-year CNG tank cycle means Malaysia had to choose between scrapping the program or continuing with petrol. In contrast, Nigeria is already developing tank manufacturing capacity in its first year, setting it apart as a key game-changer in CNG adoption,” Onanuga concluded.
