The Federal Government has introduced a new system aimed at eliminating the use of substandard kits in the conversion of petrol and diesel vehicles to compressed natural gas, in a bid to enhance safety and prevent potential explosions during refuelling.
On Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, officially launched the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) at a pilot event held at an NNPC Retail Station in Abuja. The initiative marks a significant step in the government’s push to promote safety, accountability, and environmental sustainability in the country’s growing CNG sector.
Ekpo stated, “The NGVMS will ensure that only vehicles converted at accredited facilities with certified kits can access CNG at approved stations.”
According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the minister noted that the monitoring system will offer end-to-end oversight—from the point of vehicle conversion to the refuelling process—ensuring the safety of users and the integrity of the CNG ecosystem.
He described the launch as a major milestone under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Decade of Gas Initiative, which seeks to position CNG as an affordable and sustainable energy solution for Nigerians.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on CNG (PiCNG), Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed that over $1 billion in private sector investments have already been injected into the country’s CNG value chain. He also announced that more conversion and refuelling stations are expected to be commissioned nationwide before the end of the year.
Representatives of transport unions present at the event lauded President Tinubu for introducing the PiCNG, which they said has helped cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal in 2023.
They noted that the initiative had provided their members with over one million free CNG conversion kits, buses, and tricycles, which have contributed to lower transportation costs and subsequently reduced food prices across the country.
The union leaders called on the government to prioritise commercial vehicles in the ongoing CNG rollout and to accelerate the expansion of CNG stations across the country.
“Additionally, they appealed for the expansion of CNG stations nationwide, noting that only a few states currently have CNG conversion and refuelling stations. This, they believe, would further enhance the effectiveness of the initiative,” the statement read.
