CNG initiative falters as scarcity of conversion centres raises concerns

Concerns are growing over the absence of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in Northern Nigeria and several other states across the federation. This comes amid renewed vigour from the federal government through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), which seeks to drive the transition from petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as a cleaner […]

Concerns are growing over the absence of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in Northern Nigeria and several other states across the federation.

This comes amid renewed vigour from the federal government through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), which seeks to drive the transition from petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as a cleaner alternative and to mitigate the high cost of petrol.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) in August 2023 to implement CNG across Nigeria.

The initiative aims to provide a cleaner alternative to petrol (PMS) and ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is at the centre of executing the programme, with billions of naira channelled into providing CNG infrastructure nationwide.

While the CNG initiative has been welcomed in several states, the scarcity of refuelling stations is becoming a significant challenge for drivers who have embraced the alternative fuel.

Our correspondents found that over two years after the programme was launched, some states still lack essential CNG infrastructure.

In Edo State, there are five functional CNG refuelling stations and three conversion centres. The stations are located along Agbor Road, Aduwawa, Eayan, Benin-Auchi Road, Sepele Road, and Lagos Road in Benin City.

The conversion centres are situated on Sapele Road, Lagos Road, and the Evbomodu area near Guobadia Hospital on Benin-Auchi Road.

A source told Daily Trust that of the three conversion centres, only the one along Benin-Auchi Road is currently operational. Staff members at the other two centres were transferred to other states, rendering them non-functional.

In Bayelsa, there are no CNG refilling stations in Yenagoa, the state capital, or any other part of the state, leaving motorists with limited or no access to the fuel.

The situation is no different in Katsina, where residents lament the absence of CNG service stations and conversion centres, expressing scepticism about the effectiveness of the federal government’s programme.

“When the initiative was first introduced, many Nigerians welcomed the idea, believing it would reduce the burden of frequent petrol shortages and address issues of accessibility and affordability,” a resident said.

“Now, about two years after the introduction of CNG in some states, there is not a single service station anywhere in Katsina. This has forced many residents to question the sincerity of the federal government.

“In fact, some describe the programme as a scam, designed to convince Nigerians to accept fuel subsidy removal, which has pushed more than half of the population into abject poverty,” he added.

A cross-section of Katsina residents, particularly car dealers and motorists, expressed disappointment over the non-existence of CNG service stations.

A retired civil servant, Alhaji Sada Salisu Ruma, expressed doubts about the feasibility of CNG in northern states like Katsina, citing poor roads, extreme heat, and the lack of trained experts to ensure safe vehicle conversions.

“Look around Katsina—there is no CNG facility. Then there is the issue of experts to guarantee safety. Everyone knows how dangerous it is to keep cylinders in car boots, especially during the hot season,” he said.

Sada expressed hope that the federal government would expedite the establishment of CNG facilities in northern states to provide alternatives for motorists and promote a cleaner environment.

In Plateau State, there is currently no conversion centre or refilling station. When the programme was first announced, a centre was proposed for the Narkuta community in Jos North Local Government Area. Sources said government officials had sought to purchase land but have not returned for further negotiations since requesting the price.

Findings indicate that CNG infrastructure in Kwara State remains critically inadequate, with only two operational service centres in Ilorin, the state capital. The limited facilities continue to constrain access for commercial operators despite the growing adoption of CNG.

Some institutions, including Kwara State University, are planning commercial CNG centres, but implementation has not yet materialised. A senior staff member confirmed proposals for three facilities, including partnerships, but noted that the plans are still in progress.

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Ariwoola, who is also a partner in the federal CNG initiative, expressed concern over the limited number of service centres. Many union members are converting their vehicles to CNG, but are discouraged by the scarcity of refuelling points across the state.

In Sokoto, there is currently no CNG conversion centre, but two refuelling stations are under construction by Green Ville Company—one along Airport Road and another at the Western Bypass.

An employee of the contracting firm, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that one station is scheduled for unveiling soon. A Green Ville truck was observed offloading fuel in preparation for the launch.

“But there is no conversion centre yet,” the source said, “but it will be put in place very soon.”

In Lagos, the number of CNG refilling stations remains limited despite the growing adoption of CNG vehicles.

Daily Trust findings indicate that the scarcity of refilling stations has led to long queues, with motorists struggling to access fuel.

In Ojota, Ikeja, and inward Ogba, only one Mobil refilling station at Agidingbi currently dispenses CNG after the explosion of its other outlet at Allen Junction.

Motorists expressed frustration over the long queues, attributing the delays to the shortage of stations relative to the increasing number of converted vehicles.

Wasiu Oyedele said the long queues waste valuable time and pointed out that the government needs to address the shortage of refilling stations. “There are more people converting to CNG than the number of places available for refills. The government needs to build more stations that sell CNG,” he said.

Similarly, Michael Jackson, a tricycle operator who refills at Magboro, Ogun State, acknowledged the long queues caused by the limited number of refilling points in Lagos. He urged government intervention to expand access. “I used to refill in Magboro. Here in Ogba, there is only one refilling station,” he said.

The federal government commissioned a CNG conversion centre in Gundutse, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State in late 2024. The facility is intended to focus on vehicle conversion and technical training for auto mechanics, aimed at building local capacity for the adoption of CNG technology.

As part of skills development efforts, earlier pilot programmes saw hundreds of youths trained in Kano on CNG vehicle conversion. In 2025, about 400 young technicians completed a 30-day intensive training to retrofit cars, motorcycles and tricycles (Keke NAPEP) for CNG use, receiving certification and starter kits to support the growing green energy sector.

Despite these developments, actual utilisation of the conversion centre and CNG technology in Kano has been modest. Many motorists in the state report that CNG remains largely theoretical, with few CNG-powered vehicles on the roads and limited public patronage of available facilities. Some drivers said they have never seen a functional CNG vehicle locally, citing low adoption and infrastructure constraints.

Challenges cited by users and industry watchers include a limited number of refuelling stations, logistical issues in accessing CNG fuel, and ongoing efforts to expand infrastructure and public awareness.

 

FG fails 2025 target of 500 centres

The PCNGi had projected that the total number of conversion centres in the country would reach 200 by the end of 2024 and 500 by 2025.

PCNGi Programme Director and Chief Executive, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi disclosed this at the launch of Portland Gas Limited Conversion Centre in Kado, Abuja, in December 2024.

He said: “Portland and NASENI’s initiative is emblematic of our greatest success over the last year. We went from seven conversion centres to 170—none of which were built by the Federal Government. These were investments by individuals and companies like Portland, in partnership with the public sector. I look forward to expanding beyond conversion centres into refuelling stations next year.”

Oluwagbemi noted that over a thousand technicians have already been trained this year, with many more slated for training next year, highlighting the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship to advance Nigeria’s energy transition.

When contacted by Daily Trust, Oluwagbemi could not immediately respond.

He, however, reiterated that the CNG initiative is primarily private sector-driven, with the government providing only a conducive environment for the business to thrive.

 

By Philip S. Clement (Abuja), Usman A. Bello (Benin), Bassey Willie (Yenagoa), Ado A. Musa (Jos), Abdullahi Izma Yamadi (Katsina), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Abubakar A. Imam (Sokoto), Dotun Omisakin (Lagos) & Salim U. Ibrahim (Kano)