The Federal Government of Nigeria has renewed its commitment to deploying one million compressed natural gas vehicles nationwide. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued this directive in Abuja while reviewing updates from the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat. According to Punch, the primary objective is to translate autogas policy into tangible benefits for citizens, specifically by lowering transport fares after the removal of petrol subsidies.
A statement released by the minister’s spokesman, Louis Ibah, outlined the specific tasks assigned to the leadership of these bodies. The officials were directed to identify critical interventions, step up investments, and expand CNG infrastructure to drive nationwide adoption. Punch reported that the government views compressed natural gas as a cheaper alternative fuel on an energy-equivalent basis. However, the report noted that realizing these benefits depends on the availability of refuelling stations, affordable vehicle conversions, and reliable gas supply chains.
Ekperikpe Ekpo emphasized that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources present an opportunity to stimulate economic growth and increase domestic consumption. He noted that domestic gas usage recently exceeded two billion cubic feet daily, a historic milestone. The minister highlighted that Nigeria possesses a gas reserves index of over 80 years, a factor he linked to the national strategy for the Decade of Gas. He urged the initiative’s leadership to sustain investments in refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion facilities to ensure the project reaches a logical conclusion.
Ismaeel Ahmed, who heads the Presidential CNG and Electric Vehicles Initiative, stated that the group would intensify efforts to grow refuelling networks and convert more cars to gas. Ahmed explained that a recent industry market study by the Decade of Gas Secretariat provided a framework for accelerating the rollout and identifying infrastructure gaps. Ed Ubong, who coordinates the Decade of Gas Secretariat, described CNG as a key component of Nigeria’s energy transition. He pledged continued support for the presidential initiative, aiming to deliver benefits to Nigerians while creating opportunities for investors through greater domestic gas consumption and export utilisation.