by Faridat Salifu
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced plans to slash the cost of vehicle conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) by 50 percent as part of Nigeria’s efforts to reduce transport-related emissions and accelerate its clean energy transition.
This was disclosed by NNPCL’s Executive Vice President, Gas, Mr. Lekan Ogunleye, during a House of Representatives investigative hearing on the implementation of the CNG policy held recently n Abuja.
Ogunleye said the company had appointed a focal person to coordinate investor participation in the CNG rollout, stressing that key infrastructure is already in place to support mass adoption.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for reviving the long-stalled CNG agenda and positioning it at the centre of Nigeria’s national energy and environmental reform strategy.
The Presidential CNG Initiative’s Project Director, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, highlighted environmental and economic progress under the policy, stating that the number of CNG conversion centres had grown from seven to over 300 in just 24 states.
He noted that some sectors are already receiving free conversions through public-private partnerships and reiterated the programme’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, citing the dismissal of two officials for misconduct.
Oluwagbemi called for increased public funding to sustain and expand the initiative’s second phase, which includes youth training and broader state-level inclusion.
He added that the environmental benefits of CNG—reduced carbon emissions, lower particulate pollution, and decreased reliance on petrol—make it a critical tool in Nigeria’s fight against climate change.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. James Ekperikpe, represented by Permanent Secretary Mr. Vitalis Ibe, said CNG is a cleaner, safer alternative that would cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and help Nigeria meet its global climate commitments.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, in remarks delivered by Hon. Sada Soli, said the CNG policy is central to Nigeria’s energy transition and a strategic shift away from petrol dependency toward more sustainable fuel systems.
He noted that with Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, promoting CNG in transport is both environmentally sound and economically necessary for national development.
Abbas explained that the hearing was convened to assess transparency, effectiveness, and inclusiveness in the policy’s rollout, especially regarding its benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on CNG Policy Implementation, Hon. Jaha Ahmadu Usman, warned that the policy faces critical challenges around access, safety, and equity.
Usman said if these are not urgently addressed, the CNG programme could fail to achieve its climate and transport goals despite its potential to reduce emissions and lower mobility costs.
He said the committee would focus on evaluating the policy’s alignment with global best practices, its legal framework, and the equitable distribution of conversion facilities across the country.
Usman added that following the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, the Federal Government had launched the CNG initiative as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda to ease economic pressure and foster clean mobility.
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, and other stakeholders at the hearing urged the government to expand the initiative to all states to ensure fair and inclusive access.
Stakeholders also called for increased public awareness about CNG’s environmental and economic advantages and for technical support to scale conversions nationwide.
