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Nigeria’s push toward Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a mainstream transport fuel is no longer a distant policy aspiration. It is happening on the roads of Lagos, Kano, Abuja and dozens of other cities, with more than 120,000 vehicles already converted, over 400 certified conversion centres operating nationwide, and a growing network of more than 90 refuelling stations.
Yet the speed of adoption has also brought a critical warning from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV): conversions must only take place at certified centres using approved equipment.
That message was delivered clearly in Kano this week by Tosin Coker, Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, during a media engagement organised by the Decade of Gas Secretariat in partnership with the initiative. Coker’s remarks go beyond a routine safety reminder. They sit at the intersection of economics, energy security, public safety and the long-term credibility of Nigeria’s clean-mobility programme under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Why Certified Centres Matter
CNG is widely regarded as safer than petrol when systems are properly engineered and maintained. Cylinders are designed and tested to withstand far higher pressures than normal operating conditions. Natural gas is lighter than air, so leaks tend to disperse upward rather than pool on the ground. Its flammability range is relatively narrow. These physical properties have supported large-scale CNG fleets for decades in countries such as India, Pakistan, Iran, Italy and several Latin American nations.
In Nigeria, however, the rapid growth of the market has created space for informal or poorly equipped workshops. Substandard kits, incorrect cylinder mounting, faulty pressure-relief systems or inadequate leak detection can turn a cost-saving conversion into a serious hazard. Officials at the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have repeatedly linked reported incidents involving CNG vehicles to unaccredited centres and non-compliant equipment.
Coker was explicit: “We must ensure that vehicles are converted at certified centres, fitted with approved equipment and properly maintained in line with safety regulations.” Strict compliance, he added, is essential for the safe use of CNG-powered vehicles. The regulatory framework now in place is designed to make that compliance verifiable. NADDC accredits workshops after assessing equipment, technician qualifications and facilities. Certified centres issue conversion certificates (often with QR codes) that are required for legal refuelling and for Federal Road Safety Corps checks. SON has issued dozens of Nigerian Industrial Standards covering kits, cylinders, fittings and stations. Pi-CNG coordinates a multi-agency approach that also involves the National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the FRSC.
The practical advice for vehicle owners is straightforward. Use only centres listed on the official Pi-CNG platform. Insist on genuine, approved kits and a valid conversion certificate. Schedule regular inspections of cylinders and fittings. These steps protect both the individual owner and the broader public acceptance of the technology.
Economic Logic and Energy Security
The safety emphasis does not exist in isolation. CNG offers a tangible response to the post-subsidy reality of higher petrol prices. Converted commercial vehicles — taxis, buses, tricycles and light trucks — have reported substantial fuel-cost reductions. Some participating services have recorded fare reductions of around 40 percent for passengers. For fleet operators, the savings improve margins and can support expansion or better maintenance. For households, lower transport costs ease inflationary pressure on everyday mobility.
Nigeria holds one of the world’s largest proven gas reserves. Figures presented in Kano by Taofeek Balogun, Workstream Lead for Infrastructure and Demand at the Decade of Gas Secretariat, show reserves rising from 208.83 trillion cubic feet in 2023 to 215.19 trillion cubic feet as of January 2026. Average production has climbed from 6.86 billion cubic feet per day to about 7.5 billion cubic feet per day, while domestic supply has crossed the two-billion-cubic-feet-per-day threshold for the first time. These numbers reflect both new discoveries and improved technical assessments, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Utilising a greater share of this resource domestically strengthens energy security. Every cubic foot of gas used in transport or power generation is a cubic foot that does not need to be imported as refined product or lost to flaring. It also supports the broader “Decade of Gas” ambition of turning Nigeria into a gas-powered economy by 2030.
Infrastructure Catching Up
Infrastructure remains the binding constraint — and the area of clearest recent progress. Balogun reported $3.5 billion in committed investments across four major gas projects. The Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline has reached completion and is positioned to move significant volumes between eastern and western networks. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline stands at approximately 95 percent completion, with early gas delivery to Abuja expected. Public infrastructure funding of ₦671 billion has attracted roughly ₦1.6 trillion in private capital.
These trunk lines matter for CNG because reliable pipeline gas is cheaper and more scalable than trucked compressed gas for mother stations. Once AKK is fully operational, northern cities such as Kano — already emerging as a northern CNG and EV corridor with multiple stations and deployments of buses and tricycles — will have a stronger supply backbone. Mobile refuelling units continue to fill gaps while permanent stations are built.
Pi-CNG itself has scaled conversion capacity dramatically since its establishment in May 2023. The programme now operates in more than 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Technician training has reached thousands of auto workers. Financing schemes such as “Convert Now, Pay Small Small” aim to lower the upfront barrier, which typically ranges from roughly ₦180,000–₦280,000 for tricycles to ₦350,000–₦800,000 for cars and commercial vans, depending on the kit and any available subsidies.
In March 2026 the initiative’s mandate was formally expanded to include electric vehicles, creating a dual-track clean-mobility strategy. Early EV bus deployments and plans for charging infrastructure signal that CNG is intended as a near- and medium-term bridge rather than the sole destination.
Challenges That Remain
Progress is real, but so are the gaps. Independent analyses of the Decade of Gas have noted that additional upstream production by 2030 may fall short of the most ambitious original targets. Midstream bottlenecks, power-sector payment issues and the need for predictable pricing still affect investor confidence. The denser the CNG network becomes, the greater the importance of consistent enforcement against uncertified converters. Public education must keep pace so that cost savings are not undercut by safety fears.
Household energy use is also part of the picture. The government’s LPG programme targets five million households by 2030, aiming to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal while expanding the domestic gas market further.
A Media Session With Broader Purpose
The Kano engagement itself reflected an awareness that accurate reporting shapes public understanding. About 27 journalists from television, radio, print and digital outlets participated. Murtala Adewale of The Guardian, speaking as chairman of the Correspondent’s Chapel, described the session as informative and useful, while calling for continued training and closer cooperation among journalists, industry stakeholders and regulators.
That cooperation is necessary. Nigeria’s CNG transition will succeed only if safety, affordability and infrastructure advance together. Certified centres and approved equipment are not bureaucratic hurdles; they are the practical foundation that allows the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas to reach ordinary Nigerians without unacceptable risk.
As reserves grow, pipelines near completion and conversion numbers climb, the message from Pi-CNG remains the same: do it properly, or the entire programme risks losing the public trust it needs to scale.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers Global, News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
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