By John Ikani
In a nationwide effort to reduce transportation costs, the Federal Government has begun converting petrol and diesel-powered commercial vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) free of charge.
The initiative kicked off in Abuja and Lagos, with officials urging transporters to take advantage of the program. Switching to CNG is expected to cut transportation costs by over 40%.
Representatives from the Ministry of Information, National Orientation, and the Presidential CNG Initiative monitored the launch in Abuja, where transporters brought in their vehicles for conversion.
The free conversion program was announced earlier last week, following agreements signed with companies specializing in CNG conversions. It applies to commercial transporters under unions like the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
“Today marks the start of CNG conversions for commercial vehicles at the NASENI Portland Conversion Centre,” declared Lara Ogunleye, Sales and Business Development Manager for the P-CNGI, during the program’s launch on Friday. “The first vehicle belongs to an e-hailing cab company participating in the scheme.”
E-hailing cabs will shoulder a portion of the conversion kit cost, while transport associations and their conversion kits are fully covered by the program. The initiative will roll out across the country, starting with Abuja and Lagos.
“Our goal is to convert over a million vehicles within the first year,” Ogunleye explained. “Transport unions benefit from entirely free conversions and kits. E-hailing cabs pay a share of the kit cost and cover the full conversion cost, which varies by location.”
For private individuals, conversion costs depend on the vehicle type and cylinder size, ranging from N700,000 to N1.8 million. Ogunleye encouraged transporters to seize this opportunity to significantly reduce their fuel expenses.
“Transport union members nationwide, your conversion is completely free,” she emphasized. “Contact your union to register. We’ll register you, collect your details, direct you to conversion centres, and facilitate the free conversion – all courtesy of the President.”
Udechukwu Ejike, a Bolt driver converting his car from petrol to CNG in Abuja, shared his reasons for participating. “Petrol is much more expensive than CNG. I spend N25,000 to N30,000 daily on petrol, but with CNG, I’ll need just N3,500 to N7,000. I’m thrilled with this program and urge everyone to consider switching to CNG. It’s cost-effective and beneficial.”
Other commercial transporters echoed Ejike’s sentiment, expressing hope that widespread adoption will drive down transportation costs across the country.
