Segun Adeyemi

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<h2>The Nigerian Presidency has reassured the public of the safety of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative amid recent news that Malaysia plans to phase out natural gas vehicles due to safety issues.</h2>

Malaysian Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook announced earlier this week that Malaysia will stop registering and using CNG-powered vehicles by July 1, 2025, citing safety concerns.

This move has raised questions about the safety of Nigeria’s own CNG programme, which aims to shift away from petrol and diesel.

However, in a statement on Thursday, November 7, President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that Nigeria’s situation is different.

READ ALSO: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/dangote-backs-tinubus-cng-revolution-with-dollar280m/bdebm6k">Dangote supports Tinubu's CNG revolution with $280m</a>

He emphasised that Malaysia’s decision was largely based on issues with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), not CNG, which Nigeria has chosen as the exclusive focus of its green transition.

“NGV covers both CNG and LPG. Nigeria in its transition has adopted CNG ONLY, not both, because of LPG’s valid safety and cost concerns,” Onanuga explained.

He contrasted Malaysia’s approach with Nigeria’s, highlighting that Malaysia’s transition had limited impact.

READ ALSO: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/presidency-warns-motorists-against-patronising-quacks-for-cng-conversion/jz0lnck">Presidency warns motorists against patronising quacks for CNG conversion</a>

“Malaysia basically had an unsuccessful transition away from costly and dirtier petrol and diesel. Conversion of 45,000 vehicles in 15 years (less than 0.2%) is not enviable, unlike India, China, Iran, and Egypt,” he said.

Onanuga also pointed out that Malaysia’s need to replace expired CNG tanks made it more economical to revert to petrol.

In contrast, Nigeria has begun developing tank manufacturing capacity in its first year, which Onanuga cited as evidence of a sustainable and scalable approach to CNG deployment in the country.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy and Mr O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Digital Communication and Engagement, briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday [NAN]

The Nigerian Presidency has reassured the public of the safety of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative amid recent news that Malaysia plans to phase out natural gas vehicles due to safety issues.

Presidency defends CNG as Malaysian govt dumps gas vehicles over safety

<h2>In a bid towards sustainable transportation, the Nigerian government signed an agreement on Tuesday, October 29, with taxi operators at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to convert vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). </h2>

This initiative aims to reduce airport transportation fares while promoting cleaner fuel alternatives.

During the signing ceremony, Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and Chief Executive of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), revealed that once the conversion is fully implemented, passengers could expect a 30 per cent discount on shuttle fares.

"The airport taxi operators have about 800 fleet of vehicles, and we have agreed that once we hit 50 per cent conversion, which is about 400 vehicles, a 30 per cent discount will be implemented immediately," he explained.

The discount will vary based on the distance travelled. A red card system will be introduced to display prices and discounts according to the passenger's destination. Regular monitoring will ensure compliance and the initiative's effectiveness.

Oluwagbemi, represented by Folarin Oworo, Programme Execution Coordinator for PCNGI, emphasised that this conversion aligns with President Bola Tinubu's commitment to convert one million commercial vehicles, a response to soaring fuel prices.

The programme has established partnerships with accredited conversion centres and expanded CNG refilling infrastructure in Abuja from one to seven stations in just a year.

READ ALSO: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/tinubu-urges-nigerians-to-switch-to-compressed-natural-gas-cng/vt6b57c">Tinubu urges Nigerians to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG)</a>

The safety of CNG use was also highlighted, with Oluwagbemi assuring that "the cylinders used for CNG are practically bulletproof and cannot explode or break."

He urged citizens not to compromise safety, as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has approved certified cylinders.

The PCNGI plans to introduce various cylinder sizes to accommodate different vehicles, ultimately contributing to Nigeria's more efficient and sustainable transportation network.

Converting petrol vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles [Spinny]

In a bid towards sustainable transportation, the Nigerian government signed an agreement on Tuesday, October 29, with taxi operators at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to convert vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

FG, airport taxi operators sign agreement on CNG conversion

<h2>Dangote Cement Plc has committed significantly to Nigeria's clean energy future by investing $280 million (over ₦460 billion) in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure. </h2>

This investment is part of the company's support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's CNG Initiative, which aims to transition the country to a low-carbon economy.

Arvind Pathak, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating, "By mid-2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG."

The company plans to acquire 100% CNG trucks, starting with an initial batch of 1,500 mono-fuel CNG trucks, followed by an additional 1,600 trucks, totalling 3,100 by year-end.

Pathak noted that the initiative reflects Dangote's dedication to mitigating climate change:&nbsp;"Our CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria's transition to cleaner fuels."

The company has already established a CNG station in Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, and another station is under development in Ibese to further bolster its operations.

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, highlighted the alignment of this investment with Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which targets net-zero emissions by 2060.

He expressed optimism about the transition to clean energy, commending President Tinubu's leadership in this area.

"This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President," Dangote added.

The CNG initiative, launched under Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, signifies a collaborative effort towards a cleaner and greener future for Nigeria, setting a precedent for other private sector entities to follow.

L-R: Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. [BusinessDay]

Dangote Cement Plc has committed significantly to Nigeria's clean energy future by investing $280 million (over ₦460 billion) in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure.

Dangote supports Tinubu's CNG revolution with $280m

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