By Emmanuel Elebeke

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas and transport sectors have called for increased government support, improved infrastructure and affordable financing to accelerate the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), citing inadequate refuelling stations, high conversion costs and unreliable gas supply.

The call was made at the National CNG Adoption Conference and Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting held at Roses Regency Hotel, Wuye, Abuja, where industry representatives urged stronger collaboration among government, transport unions, petroleum marketers, investors and financial institutions to expand CNG adoption.

National Chairman of the National Compressed Natural Gas Forum (NCNG-F), Faruk Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources offered significant opportunities to reduce transportation costs, create jobs and stimulate investment, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

However, he stressed that widespread adoption would depend on making CNG accessible, affordable, safe and reliable, urging unions and associations to mobilise their members, facilitate vehicle conversions and partner with financial institutions to develop affordable financing options.

Executive Secretary of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), AlegL Ogbogo, identified the gap between demand and supply as a major challenge, noting that establishing a CNG refuelling station could cost more than N300 million.

Similarly, representatives of transport owners and petroleum marketers lamented inadequate infrastructure, high conversion costs and limited access to financing. They questioned the availability of operational refuelling stations and called for government intervention, including the integration of CNG facilities into filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Uche George of the Petroleum Retailers Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said petroleum retailers could not shoulder the financial burden of expanding CNG infrastructure without government assistance.

Meanwhile, National Treasurer of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Amaoge Chukwudi, said more than 500 vehicle conversions had been completed and 90 refuelling stations established across 25 states since 2023. She expressed optimism that sustained collaboration would extend CNG services nationwide and support the transition to cleaner energy.

Abdullahi urged stakeholders to move beyond policy discussions by appointing CNG adoption focal persons, organising awareness campaigns, initiating pilot conversion programmes and establishing measurable implementation targets.

He also encouraged participation in the proposed National CNG Road Show and the Maiden National CNG Summit scheduled for October 29, 2026, to promote public awareness and attract investment.

Stakeholders, including representatives of NUPENG, tanker drivers, transport unions and petroleum marketers, agreed that addressing infrastructure gaps, supply constraints and financing challenges was essential to making CNG a viable and affordable alternative for Nigerians.