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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has said the Compressed Natural Gas Policy is a key component to the nation’s energy transition agenda, which represents a strategic shift towards cleaner, safer, and more economically viable alternatives to conventional fossil fuels, especially in our transportation sector.

Speaker Abbas who stated this at an investigative hearing by the House Ad-hoc Committee on the Implementation of the CNG Policy on Thursday in Abuja, said that with Nigeria’s abundant reserves of natural gas, the promotion of CNG as a motor fuel is not only logical but also vital to achieving our broader goals of energy security, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification.

Represented by Rep. Sada Soli, member representing Jibia/Kaita federal constituency of Katsina state, Abbas said the hearing was convened to evaluate the status of the CNG policy implementation, interrogate the processes, identify bottlenecks, and ensure that the policy is being pursued in a manner that is transparent, safe, viable, and ultimately beneficial to the Nigerian people.

Speaker Abbas stated that in response to the removal of fuel subsidies, the Federal Government proposed the CNG initiative as a palliative and long-term solution to cushion the effects of high petrol prices.

According to him, this was to reduce transportation costs, improve air quality, and stimulate industrial development across the gas value chain.

But he said concerns have been raised regarding the pace of implementation, infrastructural readiness, safety standards, and sustainability framework for this initiative.

He said as the People’s Parliament, the House of Representatives has a constitutional duty to provide oversight on policies that affect the welfare and livelihoods of Nigerians.

“Our concern is not just about the intentions of the policy, but the mechanisms of its execution — are the funds appropriated being judiciously utilized?

“Are Nigerians feeling the impact? Are safety and environmental standards being upheld? Are stakeholders adequately carried along?

“This hearing is, therefore, a platform to hear directly from the relevant MDAs, operators, industry experts, and the Nigerian people themselves. It is also an opportunity for accountability and for constructive dialogue on how to ensure the successful rollout of the CNG policy in the interest of national development.

“I commend the Chairman and members of this Ad-Hoc Committee for the work done so far and for organizing this investigative hearing. I urge all participants to be honest, objective, and patriotic in their submissions. This is not a forum for blame games, but for solutions. Let us put Nigeria first,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Implementation of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Policy, Rep. Ahmad Jaha, questioned the accessibility, sustainability, and equity of Nigeria’s CNG rollout, and cautioned that the policy risks failure without urgent transparency and stronger oversight.

Jaha described the policy as bold and ambition but beset by troubling realities that must be confronted if it is to serve Nigerians effectively.

He said that after the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, the Federal Government introduced the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG) as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda, which is aimed to cushion economic shocks, lower transportation costs, and advance clean energy goals. However, more than a year after its launch, major concerns remain unresolved.

“While the policy was envisioned as transformative, especially for low-income earners and commercial drivers, its implementation has raised serious questions about safety, access, affordability, and public awareness,” he said.

According to Rep. Jaha, the committee’s core mandate is to investigate four key areas: the safety, viability, and sustainability of the CNG programme; the geographic equity in the distribution of conversion centres; whether the initiative aligns with global best practices; and whether Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework is adequate for overseeing such a complex transition.

The committee also aims to scrutinize the management of public and private investments.

Other issues highlighted include safety standards, availability of technical training, import duty waivers, environmental impact assessments, and whether the strategy aligns with the country’s job creation and decarbonization goals.

“We are not here to obstruct progress or politicize a national policy. This is not a criminal investigation. But we must ensure that this policy works for the Nigerian people, efficiently, equitably, and sustainably,” he said.

The Chairman said the committee expects detailed submissions from key MDAs, including the Ministries of Petroleum (Gas), Finance, Transportation, and Environment; regulatory agencies like the NMDPRA, NUPRC, FRSC, SON, and Customs; and transparency bodies like NEITI and the National Bureau of Statistics.

Requested documents include the official CNG Policy, safety protocols, contractor lists, environmental assessments, and investment breakdowns.

The committee also acknowledged responses from upstream oil and gas operators who clarified that they are not involved in CNG distribution or infrastructure.

However, Rep. Jaha urged upstream, midstream, and downstream players to collaborate on a roadmap toward the local production of CNG and other clean energy alternatives.

“If this policy is falling short, this hearing must uncover why—and recommend how to fix it. If progress is being made, we will document and validate those gains”, he added.

He emphasised the importance of candid, data-driven presentations from all stakeholders, and stated that Nigerians “deserve answers, not abstractions.”

The Project Director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) in Nigeria, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said Nigeria currently has three hundred conversion centres from the initial seven centres.

He further disclosed that from five states, there are CNG centres in twenty four states, and this initiative has partnerships with different sectors in Nigeria to convert their vehicles for free.

Oluwagbemi also noted that the initiative has zero tolerance for corruption and has sacked two of its staff who were found wanting in the last few months.

He pleaded for support from the committee for more funds to afford more conversions.

Oluwagbemi further assured the committee that states yet to benefit from the initiative will be reached soon, and that the Initiative will continue to train more youths to take part in the conversion as it prepares to commence phase two of the Programme.

In his presentation the Minister of State for Petroleum (GAS), James Ekperikpe said the NIgerian government has put measures in place to build more CNG conversion centres across the country.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Vitalis Ibe said that the initiative which is pocket friendly, will help combat the issues of climate change, and reduce emission among other challenges.

He said that more Nigerians are embracing CNG which according to him is safer, cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

In his presentation, the Executive Vice President Gas, NIgeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Lekan Ogunleye, said that there have been previous efforts to introduce CNG into Nigeria but it failed.

He commended the President Tinubu administration for making the policy to see the light of the day.

He said that the NNPCL had appointed a focal person to liaise with investors who need gas for conversion.

“We are supporting the private sector. The backbone infrastructure for this project is on ground”, Ogunleye said.

He added that the NNPCL is working towards making sure that every NIgerian gets 50% off conversions.

The National Union of Road Transport Workers, The Road Transport Workers Employees Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders at the hearing commended and attested to the safety of CNG initiative but appealed to the government that all states are made to benefit from the initiative.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) declared full support for the implementation of Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, calling it a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional fuels.

The Corps also urged the National Assembly to provide legislative and budgetary backing to strengthen regulatory enforcement and ensure the long-term success of the programme.

Delivering a presentation at the investigative hearing on Thursday, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, represented by Deputy Corps Marshal Abiodun Akinlade, said the CNG Presidential Initiative aligns with global best practices in sustainable transportation and clean energy.

He emphasised that with the right protocols, CNG adoption poses no significant safety risk to motorists or the public.

“CNG is not a threat, it is an opportunity,” the FRSC boss stated, adding that it is up to regulators, legislators, and stakeholders to ensure its proper integration into the transport system without compromising safety.

Mohammed outlined the Corps’ current role in the policy rollout, which includes the mandatory registration of all CNG-converted vehicles, maintaining a national database for traceability, enforcing safety standards, and certifying roadworthiness.

He said FRSC officials had already participated in joint safety audits of conversion centres and workshops under the Presidential CNG Initiative.

To counter widespread misconceptions, the FRSC clarified that CNG is significantly less volatile than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

With an ignition point of 540°C—much higher than PMS at 280°C—and a dispersion tendency when leaked due to its lighter-than-air properties, CNG is considered safer in event of an accident.

The Corps also highlighted operational and economic advantages of CNG, noting it offers 40 to 60 percent fuel cost savings, reduces engine wear, and indirectly improves road safety by lowering vehicle breakdowns.

Moreover, the adoption of CNG supports Nigeria’s carbon emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

On its own preparedness, the FRSC said it is updating vehicle inspection protocols to include CNG-specific checks, training its personnel on CNG safety, and collaborating with agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Ministry of Transportation, and the Presidential Initiative on CNG to develop technical standards and compliance guidelines.

Plans are also underway to map high-traffic routes for the establishment of CNG inspection hubs and emergency response centres, while CNG modules will soon be introduced into driver training curricula under the FRSC’s Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP).

To strengthen implementation, the Corps made three key recommendations to the National Assembly: legislate the certification process for CNG workshops and conversions, allocate funds for training and diagnostic equipment, and incorporate CNG compliance into nationwide roadworthiness checks.

Mohammed said the Corps is fully committed to a cleaner, safer transportation future for Nigeria.

“With your legislative backing and continued inter-agency synergy, we can ensure that Nigeria’s roads remain safe while her economy grows smarter,” he said.