President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of about 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits across Nigeria to mitigate the rising cost of transportation linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
The directive was disclosed by Ismaeel Ahmed after a meeting with the president at the State House. Ahmed said the kits would allow vehicle owners and tricycle operators to convert their engines from petrol to CNG, with deployment expected to begin within the next two to three weeks.
The Pi-CNG initiative is also expanding a network of refuelling stations and charging facilities to support the transition to gas-powered and electric vehicles. Currently, 77 CNG refilling stations are at various stages of development nationwide, including two operational Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) stations in Kano, with additional “daughter stations” under construction.
The government plans to establish refuelling points along major transport corridors from Lokoja through Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, and Kano, extending to Maiduguri. Ahmed further noted that Pi-CNG is collaborating with local and international manufacturers to support vehicle conversion and the local assembly of CNG-powered and electric vehicles, a move expected to boost job creation and strengthen Nigeria’s automotive sector.
The initiative comes as domestic fuel prices surge due to the war between Iran and the United States/Israel. Petrol prices at Dangote Refinery reached ₦1,175 per litre on Monday, up from ₦995 on March 7 and ₦874 on March 2, though the refinery lowered the price slightly on Tuesday.
Ahmed stated, “President Tinubu is keenly monitoring global developments and their impact on Nigeria’s energy costs. The CNG rollout is part of a broader strategy to provide alternative mobility solutions and shield Nigerians from volatile fuel prices.”
