October 11, 2024/CSL Research
A news report says the Federal Government has officially launched a new online platform allowing Nigerians to convert their petrol-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) with the option of deferred payment. This initiative, aimed at easing the transition to cleaner energy, was announced by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Tuesday. NOA stated that the platform offers flexible payment plans, enabling users to convert their vehicles and pay in affordable monthly instalments. NOA outlined the benefits of CNG adoption, including significant cost savings, reduced environmental impact, enhanced engine longevity, safety, and
reliability. This development follows the government’s recent 7 October launch of a portal enabling youths to access CNG-powered tricycles under the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi).
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel primarily composed of methane (CH4) that has been compressed to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and transported in sturdy containers, typically at a pressure of 20–25 megapascals, often in cylindrical or spherical forms. CNG is used in modified traditional petrol or internal combustion engine vehicles, as well as in vehicles specifically designed for CNG operation. These vehicles can be dedicated solely to CNG, equipped with a separate liquid fuel system for extended range (dual-fuel), or capable of running on both CNG and another fuel (bi-fuel). CNG serves as an
alternative to petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In Nigeria, some industrial and manufacturing companies were early adopters of CNG for powering industrial generators and trucks, recognizing its cost-effectiveness—about five times cheaper than petrol (PMS).
However, while gas-to-power (GTP) initiatives have proven successful in such heavy-duty applications, safety concerns and the economic viability of gas-to-transport (GTT) for everyday or intra-state vehicles, especially non-heavy-duty cars, have raised concerns. Nigerians have raised concerned about the safety of the adoption of CNG as Gas to Transport option, especially the tendency of explosion in a highly temperate region like Nigeria. In our view, as infrastructure is developed to support the conversion to CNG-powered vehicles, safety must remain a top priority. To encourage wider adoption, the federal government should introduce and distribute
CNG buses that are originally designed with factory-fitted, safety-tested tanks. Integrating these buses into the public transport system, with their proven safety standards, would help alleviate concerns and promote the large-scale use of CNG in Nigeria’s transport sector.