Always use certified centres to convert CNG vehicles – Nigerian govt

The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles,PI-CNG & EV, has advised Nigerians to convert their vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas,CNG, only at certified centres using approved equipment.

The Chief Operating Officer of PI-CNG & EV, Tosin Coker, gave the advice during a media engagement organised by the Decade of Gas Secretariat in partnership with the initiative in Kano on Thursday.

Coker said natural gas could lower transportation costs, strengthen Nigeria’s energy security and support the shift towards cleaner transport.

He also addressed concerns about CNG safety, stressing the importance of using approved equipment, following regulations and maintaining converted vehicles properly.

“We must ensure that vehicles are converted at certified centres, fitted with approved equipment and properly maintained in line with safety regulations.”

He said strict compliance with safety procedures was essential to ensure the safe use of CNG-powered vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Workstream Lead for Infrastructure and Demand at the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Taofeek Balogun said Nigeria’s proven gas reserves had risen from 208.83 trillion cubic feet in 2023 to 215.19 trillion cubic feet as of January 2026.

Balogun added that average gas production had increased from 6.86 billion cubic feet per day to about 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, while domestic supply had exceeded two billion cubic feet daily.

“We have secured $3.5 billion in committed investments across four major gas projects, completed the OB3 Gas Pipeline, and brought the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline to about 95 per cent completion. Also, ₦671 billion in public infrastructure funding has attracted approximately ₦1.6 trillion in private investment,” he said.

On domestic energy use, Balogun highlighted the government’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) programme, which aims to reach five million households by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of participating journalists, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale of The Guardian, praised the organisers for arranging the engagement.

He described the session as informative and useful to media professionals, while calling for more training opportunities and closer cooperation between journalists, industry stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

The event attracted about 27 journalists from television, radio, print and digital media organisations. It was organised to deepen their understanding of Nigeria’s gas development plans and improve reporting on the sector.