As fuel prices remain high, many Nigerians are turning to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cost-effective alternative to petrol. Residents of Abuja, who have converted their vehicles, report massive savings—with some cutting their fuel expenses by up to ₦36,000 per week.
CNG Adoption Gains Momentum in Nigeria
In August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to promote CNG-powered vehicles. The initiative aims to:
✅ Introduce 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles
✅ Distribute 55,000 CNG conversion kits
✅ Invest $200 million in infrastructure
✅ Convert over 100,000 vehicles to CNG or bi-fuel configurations
Recently, Nipco Gas Limited announced the conversion of 15,000 vehicles, showing a rising interest in CNG as a cheaper, more sustainable fuel option.
Nigerians Share Their CNG Experience
🚗 Huge Savings on Fuel Costs
For Chinoso Akatobi-Michael, a public servant in Abuja, the switch to CNG has dramatically reduced her weekly fuel expenses.
💬 “I used to spend ₦40,000 weekly on petrol. Now, I only need ₦4,000 for CNG, saving ₦36,000 every week.”
Similarly, Kunle Adebayo, a corporate driver, reports an even bigger saving.
💬 “Before switching to CNG, I spent ₦50,000 weekly on petrol. Now, my total fuel cost is just ₦5,000 per week.”
Both agree that CNG is more affordable than petrol, but limited filling stations in Abuja cause delays.
CNG vs. Petrol: Is It Worth It?
✅ Advantages of CNG
✔ Cost Savings – Spend up to 90% less on fuel
✔ Eco-Friendly – Lower carbon emissions
✔ Government Support – Subsidies and conversion incentives
❌ Challenges of CNG in Nigeria
❌ Few CNG Stations – Long queues, limited availability
❌ Initial Conversion Cost – Between ₦300,000 – ₦600,000 with subsidies, or ₦1M+ without
❌ Engine Performance – Some drivers report weaker acceleration on CNG
Industry Experts Push for More Government Support
Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN), believes that CNG is a “superior alternative” to petrol. However, he highlights infrastructure costs as a key barrier.
💬 “Setting up a CNG station is expensive. That’s why we are asking the government for a ₦100 billion intervention to support the initiative.”
The Future of CNG in Nigeria
Despite the challenges, the rising cost of petrol (ranging from ₦945 to ₦1,000 per liter) makes CNG an attractive solution. If more CNG stations are built and conversion costs are reduced, adoption could skyrocket nationwide.
🚀 Would you consider switching to CNG? Share your thoughts!
