The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity is demanding accountability in the implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) that was launch about a year ago. The initiative, which was unveiled as a strategic response to ease pressure on the demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) consumption following the removal of fuel subsidies, has seen substantial government and private investments. Yet, the impact on the daily lives of citizens remains negligible.
Despite the federal government’s commitment to convert 150,000 vehicles within the first year and eventually reach one million conversions by 2027, the actual number of converted vehicles is reportedly far lower, estimated at fewer than 100,000. The Program Director and Chief Executive of PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi in a recent statement said that over 50,000 vehicles have been converted since the launch of the initiative. This recent position contrasted sharply with its own statement in November 2024 which claimed that over 100,000 vehicles have been converted.
Furthermore, it’s difficult to match the over $500m in investments the chief executive said the sector has attracted with the reality on ground, as Nigerians continue to endure unending queues for CNG as a result of limited stations in cities like Abuja and Lagos. This raises serious questions about the transparency, accountability, and efficiency of the policy’s implementation.
Also, we have observed that the infrastructure rollout has been uneven, with the majority of CNG refueling and conversion stations concentrated in a few urban centers, leaving most of the country, especially subregions, with little to no access. Even in areas where stations exist, motorists still face long waiting times; and reported cases of high conversion costs averaging between N750,000 to N1 million; making the transition inaccessible for the average Nigerian at some point. This reality is in stark contrast to the government’s projection that CNG would serve as a cheaper, safer, and more sustainable alternative to petrol, with cost savings of up to 60 percent for end users.
The Center is therefore calling on the federal government to provide full disclosure of funds disbursed, raised and generated under the initiative. The public deserve to know where investments have been directed and why the results do not reflect the level of resources committed. The government must also expand the rollout of conversion centers and stations equitably, particularly in underserved regions, while launching robust sensitization campaigns to encourage adoption and dispel safety concerns.
Given the nation’s history with petroleum industry corruption, the Center emphasizes that energy reform must be both transparent and inclusive. If Nigerians cannot access affordable alternatives and see measurable improvement in their daily lives, the CNG initiative risks becoming yet another lost opportunity in the country’s long quest for energy stability.
Signed:
Victor Agi
Head, Public Relations