The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has recorded significant progress, attracting over $500 million in investment and creating 10,000 jobs across Nigeria in less than one year of operation despite early implementation hurdles.
According to a statement released in Abuja, Programme Director and Chief Executive of the PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed that the initiative has facilitated the establishment of 255 new vehicle conversion centres and 53 daughter stations for CNG refueling nationwide.
Oluwagbemi noted that the number of converted vehicles has surged from just 4,000 to nearly 100,000 within a year—an achievement he says validates the national shift toward cleaner, cheaper fuel alternatives.
“Before this effort, there were only 11 CNG stations nationwide from a 2017 pilot by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and virtually no demand. Today, we are scaling rapidly,” he said.
While acknowledging concerns about inadequate infrastructure—particularly the shortage of refueling stations outside major cities—Oluwagbemi dismissed recent media criticism of the initiative as “alarmist,” emphasizing that the programme is still in its infancy and scaling up fast.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the reach of CNG infrastructure and meeting growing motorist demand, especially in underserved regions.
The PCNGI is a key component of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reduce transportation costs, cut emissions, and diversify Nigeria’s energy mix.
