By Michael Oluwagbemi, CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), confirmed that the investment has boosted AutoCNG and facilitated over 9,000 direct jobs and 75,000 indirect jobs within a year.
The Conversion Incentive Programme (CIP), introduced by President Bola Tinubu in August 2024, has played a key role, leading to the employment of 3,000 technicians and enabling the conversion of petrol and diesel vehicles to Bifuel models. The number of conversion centers has grown from 7 to over 200.
To further expand the initiative, the Federal Ministry of Finance procured 22,000 conversion kits, which began arriving in October 2024. By the end of this quarter, 10,000 new conversion centers are expected to be operational. The government is also offering discounted conversion financing for public servants through Credit Corp.
As part of the transition effort, 655 buses—including 421 CNG and 36 electric buses—have been deployed, some of which were used as part of wage negotiations with labor unions. The PCNGI aims to establish a stable and affordable alternative fuel system following the removal of fuel subsidies.
While some areas are experiencing longer queues due to rising demand, Oluwagbemi reassured that this was a temporary situation, driven by over 30,000 private-sector CNG conversions, which have significantly expanded Nigeria’s CNG fleet.
