ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has ordered the rollout of 500 additional compressed natural gas refuelling stations across Nigeria as his government steps up efforts to reduce transportation costs and expand alternatives to petrol.
The directive forms part of the federal government’s wider push to build a national CNG network and encourage more commercial drivers, transport companies and private motorists to switch to cheaper fuel options.
Tinubu said the government expects the expansion of CNG infrastructure to help lower the cost of moving people and goods across the country. He also called on state governments to support initiatives that could make public transportation more affordable.
“We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares,” Tinubu said while discussing the government’s transport strategy.
The government says vehicles powered by CNG can spend significantly less on fuel than similar petrol powered vehicles. Officials estimate that savings could range from 60 percent to 80 percent, depending on the vehicle and operating conditions.
More than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to use CNG, according to government figures, while additional conversion kits are being prepared for motorists across the country.
Nigeria has also expanded the number of certified vehicle conversion centers, where petrol powered vehicles can be modified to operate using compressed natural gas.
Despite the progress, access to refuelling stations remains a major challenge.
Motorists in Lagos, Abuja and other cities have complained about long queues and the limited number of stations capable of dispensing CNG. Some drivers say they continue to rely partly on petrol because refuelling infrastructure is still unavailable along many major routes.
The additional 500 stations are intended to close that gap.
Government backed gas infrastructure projects already under development include mother and daughter stations. Mother stations compress natural gas close to major pipelines, while daughter stations receive the gas and make it available to motorists in areas without direct access to pipeline infrastructure.
Several CNG facilities have also opened in major cities as part of the broader expansion.
The government’s shift toward CNG accelerated after Tinubu removed Nigeria’s decades old petrol subsidy when he took office in May 2023.
The policy caused fuel prices to rise sharply, increasing transportation costs for commuters, businesses and farmers. Higher transport expenses also contributed to rising food prices because trucks and commercial vehicles became more expensive to operate.
The government responded by launching the Presidential CNG Initiative, presenting natural gas as a cheaper alternative in a country with some of Africa’s largest gas reserves.
Since then, authorities have promoted CNG buses, taxis, tricycles and vehicle conversion programs, while encouraging private investment in refuelling stations.
The program also has a historical connection to Nigeria’s long struggle to reduce dependence on petrol.
For decades, Nigeria relied heavily on subsidized petrol despite having large natural gas resources. Successive governments discussed expanding gas powered transportation, but infrastructure development remained limited.
Tinubu’s administration has made CNG one of the central parts of its response to the economic pressure caused by subsidy removal.
However, transport unions and motorists say lower fuel costs will not automatically lead to cheaper fares unless conversion costs, maintenance expenses and access to refuelling stations also improve.
Commercial drivers have argued that they need reliable access to CNG before they can depend on it completely.
The federal government and state governors are expected to work together on the next phase of the rollout, including station locations, vehicle conversions and public transport programs.
For millions of Nigerians who depend on buses, taxis and commercial motorcycles every day, the success of the program will ultimately be measured by one question: whether cheaper fuel results in noticeably cheaper fares.
The government says the additional 500 stations will help move the country closer to that goal.
