The Federal Government has announced that at least $980 million has been raised to finance the construction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) centres across Nigeria, marking rapid progress in the country’s shift to cleaner energy.
Programme Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the NASENI-Portland CNG daughter station, auto conversion, and training centre. He noted that daughter stations have grown from just seven to 350 in the last 18 months, while vehicle conversions have surged from about 4,000 to 100,000 within the same period.
According to Oluwagbemi, over ₦720 billion has been invested by private sector players, including BUA and the Nigerian Bottling Company, in acquiring CNG trucks and establishing daughter stations. The PCNGI has also rolled out conversion incentives, such as up to 90 per cent discounts on conversion kits for transport unions, to encourage adoption.
He revealed that conversion centres have expanded from five states to 20, with plans to reach at least 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory by year-end. “This is the fastest-growing sector in the country today,” Oluwagbemi said, emphasising the importance of clear regulations to sustain growth.
Portland Gas CEO, Folajimi Mohammed, hailed the development as a step toward positioning Nigeria as a leader in clean energy, stressing that the NASENI-Portland partnership is not only about infrastructure but also about realising a vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
