President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas conversion kits within the next two to three weeks to help cushion the impact of rising petrol and diesel prices on Nigerians.
The Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this after a meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja.
Ahmed said the directive followed concerns about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its effect on global petroleum prices, which has pushed up transportation costs.
He explained that the President asked for updates on efforts to expand the availability of CNG and gas infrastructure across the country.
According to him, the rollout of the conversion kits is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks, with conversion centres likely to see increased activity nationwide.
Ahmed added that the initiative is also working on deploying vehicles and tricycles equipped with bi fuel CNG systems and electric mobility capabilities.
He said about 77 refilling stations are currently at different stages of development across the country, with notable progress already recorded in Kano State.
Ahmed further explained that the northern corridor stretching from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano to Maiduguri will be equipped with multiple refuelling units to improve access to CNG.
The initiative is also partnering with local manufacturers and international investors interested in establishing assembly lines in Nigeria to support the programme and create jobs.
Ahmed said the programme is also working with the Rural Electrification Agency to deploy solar powered charging stations for electric vehicles nationwide.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas was launched by Tinubu in 2023 to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel and lower transportation costs after the removal of fuel subsidy.
