The Federal Government has intensified efforts to expand Compressed Natural Gas adoption, targeting the rollout of one million CNG-powered vehicles nationwide to make transportation more affordable.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the directive during a meeting with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat in Abuja.
Ekpo urged the agencies to increase investment, expand refuelling infrastructure and accelerate vehicle conversion programmes, saying the initiative should deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians through lower transport costs.
He said Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources offered an opportunity to reduce transportation expenses, increase domestic gas consumption and support economic growth following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The minister also disclosed that domestic gas supply had exceeded two billion cubic feet per day for the first time in the country’s history.
Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the initiative would work to expand infrastructure and vehicle conversions across the country.
The Decade of Gas Secretariat Coordinator, Ed Ubong, described CNG as an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition and reaffirmed support for increased domestic gas utilisation.
Ekpo said the Federal Government would continue supporting the programme to improve adoption and make transportation cheaper for Nigerians.
