The excitement that greeted the introduction of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) has fizzled out, with Nigerians from all walks of life presently expressing mixed feelings about its impact. ANTHONY OTARU writes
In August 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), expected to cut down energy and transportation costs and ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Two years later, however, a cross-section of Nigerians, particularly motorists, have begun to express frustration over poor implementation of the programme, which they say has failed to meet expectations and has further worsened living standards.
Recall that in 2024, the Federal Government activated its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Incentive Programme in eight states—Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nasarawa.
This was followed by the launch of a ₦2.5 billion credit scheme to promote vehicle conversions to CNG while supporting local production of conversion kits, all aimed at reducing energy and transportation costs nationwide.
However, investigations by This Nigeria revealed that since its take-off, the CNG policy has been dogged by persistent issues—deficient infrastructure, regional inequality, slow progress, safety risks, high conversion costs, lack of coordination, unavailability of promised CNG vehicles, and logistical challenges.
*Short-lived joy
A civil servant, Mr Justice Igbikwe, told ThisNigeria that after converting his car to CNG, he initially felt relief at the reduced fuel expenses but was later disappointed when scarcity and long queues began to rob him of productive time.
He said, “Honestly, when I converted my car, I was happy I could save some money from the high cost of petrol, which rose from ₦187 per litre to almost ₦1,000 or even more at some point, before it came down to ₦945 or so.
“I converted my car in January 2024, and for about a year and eight months, everything was fine. But recently, when more people began converting in bulk, scarcity and long queues set in.”
Igbikwe explained that although the government initially promised to provide free conversion kits to commercial taxi drivers, corruption infiltrated the process.
“Many drivers who got free kits sold them at between ₦150,000 and ₦300,000, instead of using them. This triggered a massive rush, overwhelming the few available filling stations,” he lamented.
Similarly, an Abuja-based commercial driver, Alhaji Lanre Shitu, said the stress of getting gas is now greater than the benefit.
“There is an NNPC filling station around Dutse-Bwari in Abuja, but you have to spend at least six hours before you can get gas. Car owners even sleep at the station to buy gas. It’s not worth the trouble,” he said.
Another Abuja-based businessman, Mr. George Olaiya, agreed that conversion saves money but stressed that vehicle maintenance remains a challenge.
“For instance, last weekend, I spent just ₦1,200 on gas to cover multiple trips that would have cost me over ₦22,000 in petrol. But the plugs need to be changed every two months to avoid breakdowns,” he explained.
For some commercial drivers, however, the benefits outweigh the stress. Kunle Ojo, a driver, described CNG as a blessing, saying it has significantly increased his income.
“Where I once earned ₦70,000 a month, I now make that amount in a day thanks to CNG. But the cost of vehicle maintenance is still very high,” he said.
*Frustrations mount
Despite such testimonies, many motorists remain disillusioned. Complaints abound about spending between 6 and 12 hours in queues, with fights breaking out at stations over limited supplies.
Taxi driver Charles Olagunju said, “There is more wahala waiting for CNG. People spend 6–7 hours queuing for gas that barely lasts four hours. Fathers sleep at CNG stations, exposed to mosquitoes, to buy ₦3,500 worth of gas. Some people only see their families on Sundays because they spend the rest of the week in queues.”
Another motorist, Mr. Kayode Ase, recounted, “I got to a CNG station in Zone 1 at 6 am one Sunday. By the time I was served, it was 4 pm- 10 solid hours in a queue! Some people even spend 12 hours waiting. Corruption also worsens the situation, as people bribe attendants to cut the line.”
Another major challenge is availability. As it stands, NIPCO remains the sole major provider of CNG. Other marketers are reluctant to buy from NIPCO, seeing them as competitors. But with NIPCO’s government agreement now expired, more marketers are expected to enter the market once licensed by the Pi-CNG committee.
“The truth is, government has no single investment in CNG—it is purely private. The only role the government plays is providing an enabling environment and safety certification. If the government had invested directly, it would be easier to hold them accountable,” Ase said.
Stakeholders insist that the government must intervene urgently to ensure a consistent supply.
“The short-term solution is simple- availability, availability, availability. If gas is constantly available, queues will disappear. Government should also encourage more private investors like NIPCO, NNPC, Mobil, Shafa, Bovas, AA Rano and others to establish filling centres nationwide,” Ase argued.
Until then, the promise of CNG as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol remains unfulfilled, mainly, leaving Nigerians oscillating between hope and frustration two years after its introduction.
