Dozens of commercial drivers in Lagos are flocking to various conversion centers across the state to switch their vehicles from petrol-powered engines to compressed natural gas (CNG). This surge follows the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), which distributed conversion kits to states as part of a broader effort to alleviate the financial strain of fuel price hikes on Nigerians.
The initiative aims to convert 10,000 vehicles nationwide, with drivers encouraged to take advantage of the free conversion program at authorized centers. In Lagos, six centers are actively retrofitting vehicles, including taxis and buses operated by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
At the Portland Conversion Centre in Ojota, about 30 vehicles were waiting to be converted. Drivers like Ayodele Jeleel, a member of the NURTW, expressed enthusiasm about the switch, noting that CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol, reducing daily fuel costs from ₦40,000–₦45,000 to just ₦5,000–₦6,000.
The program also promises to lower transportation costs for the public, with drivers like Jeleel pledging to reduce fares once their vehicles are converted. The conversion process, which takes about four hours, is being carried out by teams of engineers and electricians at the centers.
Michelle Ejiofor, Chief Operating Officer of Portland Gas Limited, emphasized that CNG is not only more cost-effective but also cleaner for the environment. She confirmed that 50 kits had been allocated to the center, with conversions offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
PCNGi’s Commercial Operations Manager, Omoh Imoukhuede, affirmed that the CNG initiative is here to stay, with 1,000 kits already distributed across key states including Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Oyo, and Abuja.
