Gas
Nigeria pushes for faster CNG vehicle rollout to lower transport costs
The Federal Government has directed officials to accelerate investments in refuelling stations and conversion facilities to support the rollout of one million gas-powered vehicles.
Key points
- Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo directed officials in Abuja to speed up infrastructure deployment for gas-powered vehicles.
- The initiative aims to ease higher commuting costs resulting from the 2023 petrol subsidy removal.
- Officials plan to use a joint market study to identify infrastructure gaps and guide priority investments.
What happened
According to PM News Nigeria, the Federal Government has renewed its drive to deploy one million compressed natural gas vehicles across the country. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued a directive in Abuja demanding faster investment in refuelling sites and vehicle conversion centres.
During a progress review with the Decade of Gas Secretariat and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, Ekpo emphasised that the programme must alleviate commuting expenses after the removal of the petrol subsidy. Ismaeel Ahmed, chairman of the CNG and electric vehicle initiative, stated that efforts to build out infrastructure and increase conversions would intensify.
Why it matters
PM News Nigeria reported that Ed Ubong, coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, views gas as essential for the country's energy transition. Officials intend to rely on a market study conducted alongside the secretariat to locate infrastructure deficits and direct investments where they are most needed.
Ekpo noted that the nation holds a significant gas reserves index exceeding eight decades, providing a foundation for domestic consumption growth and investment attraction. However, lower fares rely heavily on wider network availability, accessible conversion costs, and transport operators transferring savings to passengers.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
21.9% of electricity in the world came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
