By The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) has successfully attracted over $491 million in private investment to accelerate Nigeria’s push for compressed natural gas (CNG) adoption. The initiative, aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on petrol and diesel, has already sparked significant economic activity.
PCNGi’s Programme Director, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, made the announcement during a media briefing at the State House in Abuja on Monday. He highlighted that the investment, secured within a year, has created more than 9,000 direct and 75,000 indirect jobs across Nigeria.
This initiative was launched to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal, contributing to a 3,000 percent rise in the nation’s capacity to convert vehicles to bi-fuel CNG systems. Oluwagbemi added that the number of conversion centres nationwide has grown from seven to over 200.
“We are on course to achieve 10,000 vehicle conversions by the end of Q1 2025,” Oluwagbemi confirmed. He also mentioned that 405 CNG buses have been deployed as part of agreements made during wage negotiations with organized labour.
Oluwagbemi further explained that the initiative plans to expand CNG coverage from five states to 17 by June 2025, with 25 new sites set to go live. He noted that over 150 new refuelling stations will be launched in the next 18 months, with a partnership from private investors. The NNPC has already deployed 12 stations, with eight more expected this quarter.
In response to safety concerns following the 2024 CNG cylinder explosion in Benin, Oluwagbemi announced the introduction of the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS). The system, set to launch within 60 days, will ensure that only certified vehicles are refueled, preventing incidents like the one in Benin.
While acknowledging the rising demand for CNG, Oluwagbemi admitted there have been delays in infrastructure rollout in some regions, which has caused long queues at refueling stations. However, he remains confident that the initiative’s growing success will help meet Nigeria’s energy transition goals.
