- CNG: NASS tasks FG on adaptability test
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The National Assembly has declared that the N903 million earmarked for capital projects execution by the Ministry of Petroleum in 2025 fiscal year is inadequate.
The lawmakers said this on Friday during the 2025 budget defence session the National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas, with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Addressing the Committee, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Henikien Lokpobiri, informed the committee that the projection is meagre. He noted that though the ministry dwells more on policy formulation and not contracts execution, the N903million capital vote for the Ministry in 2025 is inadequate.
Responding, the Senator Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River North)-led committee agreed with his submission, adding that the funding needs to be increased to enable the ministry to discharge its functions efficiently during the fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the committee also charged the Federal Government to carry out thorough adaptability tests or research on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) which is being promoted as an alternative means of powering vehicles in Nigeria.
It said this will prevent explosions of vehicles which converted from petrol powered automobiles to CNG powered ones.
Hon Kafilat Ogbara had raised a query to the Minister of State for Gas, Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, on how to avert recurrence of explosion of CNG cylinders.
Similarly, Senator Natasha Akpoti (PDP, Kogi Central) sought to know whether adaptability tests or research were conducted before the idea of converting cars designed for petrol to CNG was introduced to Nigerians.
She said, “There is danger in adapting any form of technology without proper research or test on its adaptability.
“The vehicles being converted into CNG powered automobiles in Nigeria are originally built for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Aside bumpy or bad roads here, as against very smooth roads in countries where CNG technology is imported from, was the factor of hot climate in Nigeria considered before importation of the idea of CNG ?”
Addressing her questions, Ekpi said the Presidential Committee on CNG carried out the adaptability test or research before the initiative in was introduced in Nigeria.
He declared that based on investigations conducted by his Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Committee, all the CNG converted vehicles that had exploded were not converted from certified centres.
The Minister added that the cylinders that exploded were not converted at the certified centres but by road side technicians.