Tinubu Orders 100,000 CNG Conversion Kits Nationwide

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate deployment of 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits across the country to cushion the rising transportation costs triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed the presidential directive to journalists shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the State House on Tuesday.

Ahmed said the President is keenly monitoring global developments and their direct impact on Nigeria’s energy costs, especially how the Middle East war is pushing up fuel prices and putting severe pressure on commuters.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East has sent global crude oil prices soaring, forcing petrol prices in Nigeria to climb sharply to between N1,200 and N1,300 per litre in many parts of the country, with fears it could hit N2,000 per litre if the crisis lingers.

The Pi-CNG boss explained that the 100,000 conversion kits will be deployed within the next two to three weeks in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to make the switch to gas affordable and accessible.

“So the President has given a direct mandate that we should immediately deploy about 100,000 kits. We are working with so many other stakeholders that would incentivise and get it into the market immediately and be able to convert a lot of vehicles and tricycles for people to be able to access gas,” Ahmed stated.

He added that President Tinubu specifically directed that infrastructure expansion should focus on key transportation corridors, with particular attention to the northern part of the country.

The Pi-CNG chief further disclosed that about 77 CNG refilling stations are currently at various stages of development nationwide. According to him, the government is fast-tracking the establishment of a chain of refuelling points along major transport routes stretching from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano up to Maiduguri.

The fresh directive is expected to provide immediate relief to millions of Nigerian commuters, especially commercial tricycle operators and long-distance transporters who have been hardest hit by the fuel price surge.

With the Pi-CNG initiative already recording significant progress, including over 100,000 vehicles converted nationwide and billions of dollars in committed investments, this latest intervention underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering cheaper and cleaner energy alternatives to ordinary Nigerians.