By Seun Ibiyemi
In a bid to expand access to cheaper and cleaner fuel alternatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to deploy about 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide.
The directive is aimed at promoting the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a substitute for petrol and reducing transportation costs for Nigerians.
The Executive Chairman of PiCNG, Ismael Ahmed, disclosed this to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the president on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ahmed said the president requested an update on the progress of the initiative and measures being taken to cushion the effects of rising global petroleum prices.
According to him, the president expressed concern over the potential impact of tensions in the Middle East on fuel costs and the broader economy.
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“The President wanted to know what we are doing at PiCNG to scale up the availability of gas across the country,” Ahmed said.
“He has given a direct mandate that we should immediately deploy about 100,000 conversion kits.”
Ahmed explained that the kits would enable vehicle owners and tricycle operators to convert their engines from petrol-powered systems to CNG-powered alternatives.
He added that the nationwide deployment would begin within the next two to three weeks, with conversion centres expected to witness increased activity as large-scale vehicle conversions commence.
“The conversion centres across the country will be bustling with activities as we begin large-scale vehicle conversions,” he said.
Ahmed also disclosed that the initiative is accelerating infrastructure development to support gas and electric mobility across the country.
According to him, the government is working to expand refuelling stations and charging infrastructure along major transport corridors.
“We currently have about 77 refuelling stations at various stages of development across the country,” he said.
He noted that Kano already has two Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas stations, with additional daughter stations under development.
Ahmed added that the infrastructure rollout would extend along key routes from Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna and Zaria, and further to Kano and Maiduguri.
He said the initiative is also promoting electric mobility as part of the government’s broader clean energy transition agenda.
According to Ahmed, the government is partnering with local and international manufacturers to encourage the assembly of electric vehicles in Nigeria.
He added that the initiative is collaborating with the Rural Electrification Agency to deploy solar-powered charging stations in off-grid locations.
Ahmed said the president expects the programme to deliver quick results by reducing transportation costs and improving mobility for Nigerians.
