The Federal Government of Nigeria has started converting petrol—and diesel-powered commercial vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) for free to reduce transportation costs nationwide.
The exercise began in Abuja and Lagos, and officials from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative monitored it.
The government says conversion will be free of charge after it signs agreements with various companies involved in the CNG conversion business.
Commercial transporters under various unions, such as the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, would benefit from this.
The sales and business development manager for P-CNGI, Lara Ogunleye, stated that the scheme will begin with e-hailing cabs and continue across the federation. The government intends to convert at least a million cars in the first 12 months, and the conversion kit and cost will be free for transport associations.
Private individuals can convert between N700,000 and about N1.8m depending on the type of vehicle and the size of the cylinder to fit.
“Please go to your transport associations and key in, and as we go to your locations, we will register you, take all your details, advise you on the conversion centers you can visit, present your vehicle, and get a free conversion. All of this is courtesy of the President,” she explained.
Some commercial drivers say they are excited about the conversion scheme. One Bolt driver in Abuja claimed CNG had cut his car energy cost by more than half.
“I’m doing this because petrol costs far more than CNG. For instance, in a day, I buy petrol for about N25,000 to N30,000, but with CNG, I’m to spend between N3,500 and N7,000. I’m happy with this initiative, and I advise everyone to consider converting their vehicles from petrol usage to CNG. It is very cheap and good,” he stated.
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