FG Targets One Million CNG Vehicles to Reduce Transport Fares

The Federal Government has renewed efforts to deploy one million compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles nationwide as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the financial burden on Nigerians.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the directive in Abuja while receiving progress reports from the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat. He urged both bodies to accelerate vehicle conversions, expand refuelling infrastructure and identify interventions that would increase nationwide adoption of CNG.

Ekpo said the government must ensure that its alternative-fuel policy delivers tangible benefits, particularly lower transport fares following the removal of petrol subsidies. He added that Nigeria’s substantial gas reserves present an opportunity to reduce transportation expenses, increase domestic gas consumption and support economic growth.

The Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the initiative would intensify investments and programmes to make CNG more accessible to transport operators. He noted that a joint industry market study conducted by the Decade of Gas Secretariat would help identify infrastructure gaps, prioritise investments and monitor implementation.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola