Nigeria has seen a remarkable surge in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres, rising from seven in 2023 to 158 in 2024 – a staggering 2,000% increase.
Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, CEO of the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG), announced the development at the 13th Practical Nigerian Content Forum in Bayelsa.
He revealed plans to expand the centres to over 1,000 to meet growing demand.
“The goal is to facilitate converting petrol cars to CNG, creating a robust market for refuelling stations,” Oluwagbemi stated.
He disclosed that the conversion cost per vehicle is about ₦1 million, with a market opportunity of ₦5 trillion to convert five million vehicles.
Plans are also underway to establish a manufacturing hub in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, for producing CNG kits and components.
“We’ve secured 10 hectares of land and aim to locally produce key components through reverse engineering,” he added.
The initiative includes capacity building, with 1,000 training institutes set to certify mechanics and create entrepreneurs in CNG maintenance.
Portable refuelling units, inspired by Indian technology, are being deployed to address infrastructure gaps.
Oluwagbemi emphasised collaboration with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), to integrate CNG infrastructure into the nation’s energy landscape.
“This is an exciting phase for Nigeria’s CNG value chain. We are building an ecosystem that will drive economic growth and reduce dependence on traditional fuel sources,” he concluded.
