.Presidency allays fears amid Malaysia’s phase-out plan
Ogun State Government is partnering with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on the training of stakeholders and technical staff of the Ministries of Environment and Transportation, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO), and Fire and Safety Officers on the conversion of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) Vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles in the state.
This follows the state’s adoption of CNG buses and E-bike into its transportation system, which is in tandem with the Presidential Initiative (Pi-CNG) on energy transition to cleaner and alternative fuel.
But while Malaysia plans to phase out CNG vehicles, Abuja is defending its plan to adopt CNG as a veritable alternative to PMS to power automobiles.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, at a workshop, yesterday, said the conversion of vehicles to CNG would not only lower the cost of transportation, it would also reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
For his Transportation counterpart, Gbenga Dairo, the state government is committed to supporting the laudable initiative, adding that adequate enforcement and regulations must, however, be adhered to for a safer environment.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso, represented by the Director, Laboratory Services, David Ikhebome, and Managing Director of Safety Plus, Mrs Omolara Odebunmi, expressed their organisation’s determination to ensure improvement on the quality of CNG products, underscoring the need for continuous training of stakeholders and technical staff on CNG safety precautions and its usage with different vehicles.
The ministry said with the partnership and training, the state was determined more than ever to consolidate its pioneering role of institutionalising safety procedures for CNG vehicles retrofit (re-kitting) and leading the way in the use of CNG-powered trucks and electric tricycles nationally for public transportation.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed safety fears in a post on X, yesterday while responding to reports on Malaysia’s plan to phase out CNG-powered vehicles by 2025.
The Malaysian government had announced plans to phase out CNG vehicles and end the sale of natural gas vehicles by July 2025.
According to a local media source, Free Malaysia Today, Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, made this announcement at a briefing on Monday. He explained that the decision was intended to protect road users and the public from the potential hazards posed by ageing CNG tanks.
Loke was quoted as saying, “These NGV tanks have a safe usage lifespan of approximately 15 years, and if they are not replaced, they become unsafe to use and may fail at any time. From July 1, 2025, CNG-powered vehicles will no longer be registered or allowed to operate in Malaysia.”
However, Onanuga clarified that Malaysia’s policy was focused on the safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), not CNG.
He added that Nigeria chose CNG specifically for its safety and cost-effectiveness, with plans underway to develop domestic tank manufacturing capacity.
Onanuga wrote, “Some clarification on Malaysia’s plan to phase out CNG-powered vehicles: 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 LPG cylinders, which are very dangerous.’
“NGV covers both CNG and LPG. Nigeria, in its transition, has adopted CNG only, not both, due to valid safety and cost concerns regarding LPG.”
According to Onanuga, Malaysia’s programme for CNG-powered vehicles struggled, achieving only a 0.2 per cent conversion rate over 15 years. By contrast, nations like India, China, Iran and Egypt have seen considerable success.”
He added that Malaysia faced difficulties in replacing 15-year-old tanks due to limited manufacturing capacity, while Nigeria, in its first year of adopting CNG, was already addressing the issue.
Malaysia introduced CNG for taxis and airport limousines in the late 1990s, while Nigeria began its CNG initiative in 2024 as an alternative transportation fuel.
