Tinubu orders deployment of 100,000 CNG conversion kits nationwide

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide as part of efforts to cushion the impact of soaring petrol prices and expand access to cheaper fuel alternatives.

The development was disclosed by the Executive Chairman of PiCNG, Ismael Ahmed, after a closed-door meeting with the President on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Ahmed, the President requested an update on the progress of the CNG programme and measures being taken to mitigate the effects of rising global petroleum prices, particularly amid growing tensions in the Middle East.

Tinubu’s push for wider CNG adoption comes as the government seeks to reduce dependence on petrol and promote gas as a cheaper and cleaner energy option for transportation across the country.

What they are saying Ahmed said the directive from the President mandates the initiative to accelerate the nationwide rollout of vehicle conversion kits that will enable motorists to switch from petrol-powered engines to compressed natural gas.

“The President wanted to know what we are doing at PiCNG to scale up the availability of gas across the country,” Ahmed said.“He has given a direct mandate that we should immediately deploy about 100,000 conversion kits.” He explained that the kits would allow vehicle owners, including tricycle operators, to convert their engines to run on CNG.

Ahmed added that the conversion programme is expected to commence soon as preparations are already underway across designated centres nationwide.

“The conversion centres across the country will be bustling with activities as we begin large-scale vehicle conversions,” he said.More insight Ahmed said the initiative is also scaling up infrastructure required to support the transition to gas-powered transportation.

“We currently have about 77 refuelling stations at various stages of development across the country,” he said.He noted that Kano already has two Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas stations, while additional daughter stations are currently under development.

According to him, the infrastructure rollout will extend across major transport corridors linking Lokoja to Abuja, Kaduna and Zaria, and further north to Kano and Maiduguri.Ahmed added that the programme is also encouraging the development of electric mobility as part of Nigeria’s broader clean energy transition.He said the government is working with both local and international manufacturers to promote the assembly of electric vehicles in Nigeria.

The initiative is also collaborating with the Rural Electrification Agency to deploy solar-powered charging stations in off-grid communities.

What you should knowThe Presidential CNG Initiative (PiCNG) was introduced in 2023 as a key component of Nigeria’s energy transition strategy following the removal of petrol subsidies.

At the time, the government positioned the initiative as both a cost-relief mechanism for Nigerians and a long-term strategy to deepen domestic gas utilisation and reduce dependence on petrol.However, a recent exclusive report by Nairametrics found that the initiative has struggled to meet expectations despite attracting more than $2 billion in private sector investments over two years.In recent days, Nigeria has witnessed several increases in the price of petrol, linked to the global energy fallout from the recent conflict between Iran and a combined force of the US and Israel.On Monday, Nairametrics reported that the Dangote Refinery raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol, to N1,175 per litre, marking the third upward adjustment within a week. However, the refinery reduced its ex-depot price for petrol by N100, with the refinery now selling at N1,075, as reported on Tuesday, March 10.

Emmanuel Azubuike Emmanuel Azubuike is a human interest journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria. With over four years of experience in journalism, he focuses on telling deeply reported stories at the intersection of markets, government policy, and technological advancement — and how they shape everyday lives.