The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative announced that Nigeria now has 171 compressed natural gas conversion centers, following the commissioning of the Portland Gas Conversion Centre in Kado, Abuja.
The initiative aims to expand this number to 200 by December 2024 and has even more ambitious plans for the coming year.
Chief Executive of P-CNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, expressed optimism about the progress while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, noting that the initiative had already surpassed its 2024 targets.
“Before the end of this year, I promise in the next two weeks, we will get to 200,” Oluwagbemi stated.
“We are already looking for and certifying at least an additional 35 to 40 on our record. I believe we will get to 40 at the end of this year. And that is double our target. You remember this time last year, I told you our target was 100, and now 200.”
He said, “Next year, we have set a target of 500 for us, and I believe we will blow.”
Oluwagbemi highlighted the rapid growth of conversion centers, which have increased from just seven in 2023 to 171 currently. He emphasized that these facilities are entirely privately owned.
“We went from seven conventional centers, that with these now, I easily would say we are around 171,” he explained.
“So today, from seven to 171, there is not a single one of those that were built by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
At the newly commissioned Portland Gas Conversion Centre, vehicles can be converted to CNG in under an hour.
The CEO of Portland Gas Limited, Folajimi Mohammed, described the center as state-of-the-art, offering mechanical, electrical, calibration, and gas services.
“So what we do here is a turnkey solution, where from the conversion part of it, you can make sure that when you leave here within an hour, thereabouts, you are able to make sure that you have a fully converted CNG car,” he said.
Mohammed explained that vehicles remain hybrids, allowing users to switch between petrol and gas based on availability.
“And when I mean fully converted CNG car, I mean, it is still a hybrid. You can have the option to switch from petrol to gas where you want to.”
He assured that the gas tanks installed during conversion are durable, with a lifespan of 20 years
Addressing infrastructure challenges, he noted, “We know the gas infrastructure is just about to improve. Well, for now, what we have, is the limited availability of the infrastructure, by making sure that you don’t do 100% conversion. I can always switch to petrol in the event of any emergencies.”
Mohammed also stressed the safety of CNG, highlighting that methane, being lighter than air, is a safe and reliable energy source.
As part of its efforts to enhance mobility during the festive season, P-CNGI announced plans to provide free interstate transportation in the Federal Capital Territory and nearby areas.
Oluwagbemi revealed that six additional buses would be added to the current fleet.
“You know in Abuja today we have 16 buses running Gwagwalada to Keffi and Nyanya as well as in Nigeria. That project is already ongoing, and it will be expanded to interstate this week,” he said.
“We are going to put additional six buses to run interstate here in Abuja and neighboring cities. We are just providing free transportation during the yuletide period.”
Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu, commended the initiative’s achievements, noting the unique public-private partnership model driving its success.
“The CNG journey started a long time ago,” Halilu said, adding that the Portland Gas Centre represents a new milestone.
He explained that the government provides the necessary policy framework, infrastructure, and intellectual property to support private-sector efforts.
“While you have government investing with policy, some of the infrastructure, and intellectual property, the private sector brings operational capacity to make this a reality.”
Halilu described the collaboration as a blueprint for sustainable energy and infrastructure development in Nigeria.