The management of Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) has said that the project is on course gathering momentum and is gradually becoming popular and attracting investments just seven months after its introduction in the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Programme Director/Chief Executive, Engr. Michael O. Oluwagbemi, PE, PMP in a reaction to what he refeered to as “some negative media reports on the programme.”
Oluwagbemi recalled that prior to the launch of the initiative by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 there were very few numbers of CNG vehicles on Nigerian roads while the eleven CNG stations piloted by NNPCL didn’t enjoy reasonable patronage.
He however noted that since October 2024 when the President Tinubu launched the project, it has witnessed improved patronage in terms of numbers of CNG vehicles on Nigerian roads and numbers of CNG stations that are coming on board.
“One year out, we are pleased that even the doubting Thomases are singing a new tune. With over 50,000 vehicle count and rising to 100,000 – the queues at CNG stations are naturally going to rise, because of such unprecedented increase (from mere 4000) in vehicle count as a result of massive incentive provided by the administration and the breakthrough,” Oluwagbemi said.
To buttress his claims on the successes so far recorded on implementation of the PCNGI, Oluwagbemi affirmed that even the pessimists of the project are singing new tunes with the realization that over 50,000 going to 100,000 vehicles, have been captured into the initiative, while CNG stations record increasing patronage on daily basis because of the massive incentive provided by the Tinubu administration and the benefits of the switch.
“One year out, we are pleased that even the doubting Thomases are singing a new tune. With over 50,000 vehicle count and rising to 100,000 – the queues at CNG stations are naturally going to rise, because of such unprecedented increase (from mere 4000) in vehicle count as a result of massive incentive provided by the administration and the breakthrough in awareness due to the economic benefits of the switch. Nigerians love CNG and the programme is working,” he stated.
The PCNGI boss also noted that the private sector and public partners that will develop the needed infrastructure are unrelenting in addressing the needs.
“Indeed, the private sector as well as public partners that will develop the necessary infrastructure to meet the rising demand of CNG vehicles are taking note. Just last week, two new daughters stations in Abuja were commissioned with AY Shafa and Femadec investing in these ventures. Both entities have 9 and 21 daughter stations respectively in the works in the next one year. For Femadec, the dual benefit of leading the charge of building CNG ecosystem in 20 universities is an icing on the cake. This week, Yola is stepping up with Greenville investing, in its intensive roll out of LCNG stations in 51 locations across the North and SE as well as hard to reach places,” saying “Over 175 stations are being rolled out nationwide by various partners.”
In addition to Greenville and Femadec, the PCNGI said that it is backing partners to roll out 24 sites in the next 6-9 months, with one site already activated in Ilorin. Port Harcourt, Ado Ekiti, Lokoja, Abuja, Aba and Enugu will all go live within the next 60 to 120 days to dispense CNG, to scale the refueling on-lending initiative heralded with the first launch in Ilorin last year that have already transformed that local economy.”
Aside from these,Oluwagbemi informed that NNPCL is investing.
He said that additional 8 stations to its current stock of 12 are being finished as we speak and another 40 of 100 in Phase 2 of her roll out plan is being finalized. Bovas is launching two sites in Ibadan any moment from now from its eight station roll out of ultra modern CNG stations and ecosystem. NIPCO’s 8 stations in addition to 23 already live across the country will be completed within 6 months.
The PCNGI boss noted that Just last week, the Midstream Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, a veritable partner in the process awarded ten new entries equity investments to develop their various gas projects. According to him, “Three of them were focused on developing CNG stations. This was in addition to 4 of the 6 of initial 123 billion naira investments made last year by MDGIF being directed at the sub-sector.”
He affirmed that In one year, the CNG sector has attracted over $500 million in investments and created over 10,000 direct jobs. 255 new conversion centers that didn’t exist last year and 53 daughter stations exist today as a result of some of those investments.
Oluwagbemi who concluded that Nigeria is making progress with respect to CNG infrastructure however noted that engineering feats take time said “It took over seventy years to get addicted to petrol and diesel, it will take more than seven months to be weaned off the addiction,”
He therefore called on the media to focus more on the positive side of the project because of the inherent benefits it carries.
“We plead patience with the skeptics… will focus on the positive stories of empowerment and enablement instead of driving negative narratives to stand in the way of progress. We doubt anyone will need to convert a Bi-Fuel vehicle that is already running on both CNG and Petrol back to just run on Petrol since even the mere occurrence of CNG stations on a journey can result in up to ninety percent reduction in costs. Vanguard was being alarmist and deliberately blind to progress and we understand their lonesomeness,” he counselled.
