The Federal Government has commenced a free Compressed Gas (CNG) conversion initiative to reduce the cost of fuelling for commercial drivers across the country.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Government has commenced a free Compressed Gas (CNG) conversion initiative to reduce the cost of fuelling for commercial drivers across the country.
The pilot program which commenced in Abuja on Friday is targeting over a million commercial vehicles for the period of twelve months.
Speaking to newsmen during the occasion, the Business Development and Strategy Manager, Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG), Omolara Obileye said the program is an initiative of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to provide an alternative to petroleum for motorists.
This is expected to impact positively on the nation’s economy, reduce the cost of living and cushion the negative impact of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
She said,”Today we are at NASENI Portland Conversion Center where we have started conversion for commercial vehicles. The first one that we have seen is from the E-hailing cabs that are part of the conversion scheme. The E-hailing cabs are supposed to pay a fraction of the cost of conversion, while the transport associations have 100% conversion free and cost of the kits 100% free.
“So today we have started with E-hailing cabs, and the scheme is going to run across the federation. We are starting with Abuja today and Lagos, and we’ll keep rolling out and the announcements will be made regularly as we go to each of the states.
“Nationwide we intend to convert over a million cars within the first 12 months.
The cost of conversion is free to transport Associations, cost of kits is free, cost of conversion is free. For e-haling cabs they are paying a fraction of the cost of the kits, and they are paying 100% of the costs of conversion.”
Obileye explained that for private individuals, the cost of the conversion ranges from N700,000.00 to N1.8 million naira, adding that it depends on the car size.
“For private individuals, the cost of conversion is a range, so it depends on the car size, we have four cylinders, we have six cylinders, we have eight cylinders vehicles, it depends on the size of the cylinder that goes into your vehicle. But it ranges anywhere from N700, 000. 00 to N1.8million.
“For transportation company owners nationwide, the cost of conversation is 100% free to you. Please go to your associations, key in and as we go to your location we will register you, take all your details and advise on the conversion centers that you can go, present your car and get free conversions and all of this is courtesy of the President,” she said.
She further explained,”So outside the physical conversions, the drivers have to undergo a training before they can leave the conversion center, to understand what conversion was done in their cars, what items have been put in, and the safety measures they ought to take for refueling and checking, and teaching them on how to use the different conversion kits and equipments that have been placed in their cars.
“How to check on the gas thermometer to know what gas is left, and how to switch between the CNG gas and the petrol power in the cars.
“We have refuelling stations across the federation in different states, right now we are in Abuja we are rolling out in partnership with a couple of both downstream and new partners. We will also push out the list of refuelling stations that are available in each state, and the list is an ongoing concern that will be updated regularly, and will also be shared across all our media pages.”
The Head Overseas Projects, Mijo Automobile Gas PVT, Limited, Gaurav Goyal explained that the CNG vehicles are safe, cost effective, and environment friendly.
Goyal noted that the CNG is very safe, pointing out that it is the safest and cleanest fuel.
He said,”Thank you for bringing us to Nigeria for us to showcase our products. Here we are partnering with 45 Spanish auto gas stations in Abuja, and we have changed many vehicles, as a prospect Nigeria is moving into a more economical way of travelling.
“CNG is one of the prospects as Nigeria is about to convert to normal petrol station to CNG one. So, you can see the vehicles that we converted recently. It is cost effective, this is one of the major change you will observe when you convert to CNG.”
On the cost for conversion of a vehicle to CNG, he said it is at 50% discount for commercial vehicles, while others are to pay fully which is about N750,000.00 (Seven hundred and fifty thousand naira, only) depending on the size or type of vehicle.
“So basically the cost depends on the size of the vehicle, because there are different types of vehicles. So we need to understand what exactly we need to configure in the system.
“So all these vehicles that have been converted to CNG are very safe, as you all know CNG is the safest and cleanest fuel. So, what we are advising every Nigerian is to convert their vehicles to CNG, and it will be a very good initiative for bringing all the prospects, like the cost of PMS should be down. The CNG is not only pocket friendly, it will reduce food products pricing among numerous other benefits,” he said.
Other auto gas stations visited in Abuja include, NIPC Gas Station, the Presidential Compressed Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG), and the Mijo Auto Gas PVT Ltd, among others.
