LAGOS, Mar 11 – Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has directed the nationwide deployment of about 100,000 compressed natural gas conversion kits as the government moves to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices and expanding transport costs across Nigeria.
The directive was disclosed by Ismaeel Ahmed, head of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, after a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Ahmed, the conversion kits will allow vehicle owners, including commercial drivers and tricycle operators, to switch from petrol engines to compressed natural gas, which is considered a cheaper fuel alternative. The rollout is expected to begin within the next two to three weeks as designated conversion centres prepare for increased activity.
The directive comes as petrol prices continue to rise across several states following disruptions in global oil markets linked to the conflict in the Middle East as higher international oil prices have pushed up the cost of refined petroleum products in Nigeria, which still relies heavily on imported fuel.
Across Nigeria, fuel prices have surged in recent days. In Kaduna, petrol now sells for between ₦1,345 and ₦1,350 per litre, up from roughly ₦1,250 earlier in the week. Meanwhile, transport fares on the Kaduna–Abuja route have risen to ₦9,000–₦10,000, compared with about ₦7,500 previously.
In Ibadan, prices ranged between ₦1,200 and ₦1,300 per litre, triggering long queues at several filling stations and higher transport fares within the city. Similar increases were recorded in other locations, including Kebbi, Ado Ekiti and Calabar, where pump prices in some stations reached as high as ₦1,500 per litre.
As part of the broader transition plan, the government is also accelerating infrastructure development to support gas powered mobility. Ahmed said about 77 CNG refuelling stations are currently under development nationwide, with new facilities planned along major transport corridors linking Lokoja, Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria and Kano.
The initiative was introduced in 2023 following the removal of petrol subsidies, with the government positioning gas powered transportation as a long term strategy to reduce dependence on petrol and lower transport costs for Nigerians.
