The federal government says it hopes to achieve the conversion of one million petrol vehicles in the country to compressed natural gas (CNG) by 2027.

Michael Oluwagbemi, the programme manager of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) Initiative, disclosed this at the ‘Park to Park’ CNG mobilisation programme and signing of MoU with some conversion centres and distribution of free CNG conversion kits in Abuja.

“President Bola Tinubu has given us the mandate to convert one million commercial vehicles in the next two years. Today is just the beginning for this region that includes the Federal Capital Territory,  Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi.

“We are here to hand over these conversion kits to different stakeholders like the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and many others.

“We had seven conversion centres last year, but now, we have over 120 across the country. We are also partnering with the private sector to ensure the availability of CNG refuelling stations across the country,” Mr Oluwagbemi said.

He further explained that the stakeholders would participate in the conversion programme by nominating vehicles of their members to be converted at the centres.

The Pi-CNG programme manager said that Nigeria is sitting on a pillow of gas, which is cheaper and more reliable to power transportation.

“It will lead to between 40 and 70 per cent savings for road transport users or operators. The operators will pass on the savings they are realising to the consumers. This will lead to a reduction in the price of transportation of goods, people and services.

“It is also worth noting that we are focusing on mass transit which forms about 90 per cent of the transport operators. But I can assure you that the private sector and some conversion partners are developing financing programmes to enable the private sector, especially employees who earn regular salaries, to be able to get this opportunity as well.

“It will go round, but we are focusing on mass transit. In the agreement, we have an iron clause concerning its utilisation and protection of the materials. We are properly tracking them,” Mr Oluwagbemi said.

(NAN)