The Federal Government has commenced the free conversion of petrol-powered commercial vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of an initiative to reduce fuel costs and promote cleaner energy. This move comes as Nigeria grapples with the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies.
In Ibadan, 100 commercial vehicles were converted to run on CNG at three locations: Mobil filling station on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway, Automation Auto Gas in Podo Industrial Village, and Ajibode Retail Outlet on UI-Ojoo Road. Louisa Afu, Business Development Executive of the Presidential CNG initiative, explained that the conversion kits distributed were part of the government’s efforts to ease the burden of high fuel prices on Nigerians.
“CNG is a cheaper, more sustainable option than petrol. This initiative shows the President’s commitment to easing the pains of Nigerians while promoting a cleaner environment,” Afu stated. She assured that the free conversion exercise would be extended to other parts of the country to help more vehicle owners.
A similar initiative was launched in Zaria, where 50 commercial vehicles were converted as part of the Presidential CNG initiative. Dauda Suleiman, Team Lead for the conversion program, emphasized the economic benefits of CNG, noting that it costs significantly less than petrol. He added that the government is working to expand access to CNG refueling stations across the country.
“CNG is not just cheaper, it also covers more distance than petrol, making it a cost-effective option,” Suleiman said, adding that while the first 50 vehicles received free conversion kits, others would access the kits at a reasonable cost.
Commercial drivers in both cities expressed optimism about the initiative. Sowole Jayeola, a CNG user in Ibadan, highlighted the savings he’s experienced since converting his car. “I used to spend between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly on petrol, but now I spend just N25,000 to N26,000 on CNG,” he said.
In Edo State, during the launch of the initiative in Benin, Tosin Coker, Head of Commercial at the Presidential CNG Initiative, emphasized that the project is targeting the conversion of one million vehicles nationwide. The conversion, at no cost to vehicle owners, is expected to lower transport costs and make living more affordable for Nigerians.
The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader plan to mitigate the economic impacts of petrol price hikes and the removal of fuel subsidies. With partnerships between the government and transport associations, the scheme aims to ease the financial burden on Nigerians, while promoting a transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.