Moves To Open CNG Refueling, Car Conversion Stations In Rivers
The Programme Coordinator, Regulatory, Compliance and Facilitator, Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Zayyanu Tambari Yabo, has revealed that Federal Government would realise over three billion dollars investment from the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion initiative.
According to him, about one million CNG vehicles would be produced by 2027 while 25,000 personnel would be trained and empowered on the CNG conversion programme.
Yabo disclosed this while answering questions from journalists at a stakeholder engagement on CNG Conversion Initiative in Abuja.
He stated that the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in ensuring an alternative and cheaper transportation fuel for Nigerians.
“Last year, President Bola Tinubu launched Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNG-I) as a successor to the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) to cushion the impact of subsidy removal and this initiative is techno-economically beneficial because Nigeria is naturally blessed with abundance of natural gas deposit,” Yabo said
While stressing the need to leverage the natural gas resources and transform same to energy that would drive the automotive wheels of Nigeria, Yabo announced that some CNG conversion centres have already been established across the country.
He also emphasised that the recent directive by President Bola Tinubu to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to procure only natural gas powered vehicles showed his commitment to achieving the objectives of the P-CNG-I.
He solicited the support of all stakeholders, most especially in the transport sector, towards realising the objectives of initiative in the country.
Meanwhile, the Programme Director of the initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, has given the assurance that it would reduce the current inflation ravaging the country and address incessant fuel crisis.
Oluwagbemi, who also spoke during a stakeholder engagement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, also explained that the initiative is critical to national development and to the well-being of the people, especially the Niger Delta region which is the hub of the oil and gas activities in the country.
He disclosed that the government would be saving $2.5 billion in every 1,000,000 vehicles converted to CNG.
Oluwagbemi noted that natural gas is in abundance in the nation but that Nigerians lacked the foresight on utilising it, stressing that CNG is cleaner, cheaper and would reduce the cost of transportation.
“Over the last five to six decades, these resources have continued to waste. Nigeria is the second largest waster of oil and gas. We exploit it and waste it; then continue to suffer poverty.
“The president has set us on natural gas feature and set the nation on the path of growth. The use of gas ensures we have energy savings; mind you the price of natural gas is controlled by government.
“What the president is asking is to do more with the blessings God has given us. If we are able to move three million vehicles in the next three years, we are going to end the era of environmental degradation.”
Oluwagbemi stressed that the nation stands to benefit much with the energy transition, insisting that CNG is more reliable for the transportation sector of the country.
“Nigeria stands to gain a lot from the energy transition in the transportation sector. First and foremost, CNG is our own resources. Natural gas is everywhere in Nigeria. It is a much more reliable source of fuel for the transportation sector.
“It has the capacity of reducing inflation. It is cheaper. You can realise between 40 to 50 per cent savings from patrol. This is good for Nigeria and it is safer,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of FEMADEC Energy Limited, Fola Akinola, affirmed that plans had been concluded to open two CNG refueling stations and two vehicle conversion parks in Port Harcourt.
He urged those who want to invest in CNG refueling units to step in and make good use of the opportunity.
