FG targets 1,000 CNG stations to reduce cost of transportation

.Commissions additional 5 stations in Lagos

. Panic as CNG bus explodes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Blessing Taiwo with agency report

President Bola Tinubu has directed the expansion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure in Nigeria, with an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations to achieve a planned national network of 1,000 stations.

The directive aims to take the benefits of Nigeria’s gas resources directly to the people and ensure low cost of transportation.

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the disclosure on Wednesday, during the official launch of five new CNG refuelling stations in Lagos.

The CNG stations, jointly built by the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) are situated at Idimu, Alimosho LGA; Ogolonto, Ikorodu West LGA; Abule Egba, Alimosho LGA; Ajah, Eti-Osa LGA and Oko-Oba, Agege LGA.

At the commissioning ceremony held at the new Ogolonto CNG station, Ekpo said that each facility has 24,000 standard cubic metres per day of CNG compression capacity and 9,800 standard cubic metres of storage capacity.

According to him, the gas refuelling stations are accessible and designed as last-mile retail stations to serve residents with cleaner and cheaper fuel close to where they live and work.

“Every additional CNG station expands the ecosystem required to give motorists and commercial transport operators a viable alternative fuel. It brings cleaner gas closer to the point of consumption and supports our broader objective of making CNG increasingly accessible across Nigeria.

“Our objective is therefore not simply to count the number of stations commissioned. Success must ultimately be measured by impact: whether the infrastructure helps reduce operating costs for transporters and businesses, whether those savings reach commuters, and whether Nigerian families begin to feel tangible relief,” he said.

The Minister commended IOGC, MDGIF and the Lagos State Government for a remarkable partnership in the CNG projects, calling for more replicas of Federal-State-private-sector collaboration across the country.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of MDGIF, Mr Oluwole Adama urged transport operators, businesses and public institutions to take full advantage of the CNG facilities which have been brought closer to them.

“This is how national policy finds its way into the everyday lives of Nigerians,” Adama said.

He stated that the five CNG stations, put together can hold 45,640 standard cubic metres of gas and at full capacity, can fill about 8,400 cars per day, using natural gas produced in Nigeria.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, our gas reserves are being put to work to power transport, commerce, jobs and the everyday needs of Nigerians. That is the heart of our mandate at MDGIF.

“The Fund exists to expand viable gas infrastructure and ensure that Nigeria’s gas resources are used productively, and the projects we commission today show what that looks like on the ground,” the Executive Director stated.

Temitayo Gbajumo, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of IOGC, stated that the firm has a mandate to deliver 15 CNG stations, of which four had been built earlier, and the newly added five makes it a total of nine stations presently.

Gbajumo, however, assured that the remaining six CNG stations will be completed by Q1 2027.

“This project is about creating an ecosystem that delivers affordable energy to Nigerians, reduces transportation costs for businesses and households, and provides the infrastructure required to support the widespread adoption of CNG-powered vehicles.

“These facilities represent our commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s gas expansion programme and Lagos State’s vision for a cleaner and more efficient transport sector,” he said.