Precious Anga
Lagos — The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to establish 2,322 Compressed Natural Gas stations across Nigeria by 2027 as it intensifies efforts to cut transport costs, deepen gas utilisation and reduce dependence on petrol-powered mobility.
The target forms part of a broader national push to accelerate alternative fuel adoption, expand gas infrastructure and create a new industrial value chain around cleaner transport energy.
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electronic Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed the plan at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Summit organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Lagos.
Represented by agency official Olayinka Rufai, Ahmed said Nigeria’s CNG drive had recorded rapid growth within less than three years, transforming from a niche market into a growing nationwide mobility platform.
According to him, commercial access to CNG has expanded from just one state at the inception of the programme to 24 states across the federation.
“Today, in less than three years, we now have 24 states active. We are looking at what goes on elsewhere. I think we can safely say that it is probably the fastest we have seen anywhere in the world, especially if you consider the conditions under which we are doing this, the economy, and everything,” he said.
The government said more than 100,000 vehicles have already been converted to run on CNG, with commercial transport operators accounting for the bulk of the transition.
Ahmed explained that the early phase of the programme deliberately focused on buses, taxis and other commercial vehicles to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on everyday Nigerians struggling with transport costs.
“Because of the palliative nature with which we started, the majority of those vehicles turned out to be commercial vehicles, because we intended to make an impact that touched the common man,” he said.
Beyond vehicle conversion, the initiative is beginning to reshape investment flows into Nigeria’s transport energy market.
Ahmed revealed that the CNG mobility ecosystem has attracted more than $1bn in direct investments, creating fresh opportunities in infrastructure, engineering, conversion technology and local manufacturing.
Nigeria currently operates 72 active CNG refuelling stations, while another 175 stations are under development. The country also has 28 operational compression stations supporting gas distribution, with 65 more facilities under construction.
“We expect to triple current infrastructure capacity in less than 18 months. That expansion should increase supply, strengthen confidence and stimulate stronger demand across the market,” he said.
The government noted that the sector’s growth has so far been driven largely by indigenous participation rather than major oil and gas players.
More than 350 conversion centres are now operational nationwide, most of them owned by small Nigerian businesses building capacity in the emerging gas mobility economy.
On technical readiness, Ahmed disclosed that over 5,600 Nigerian technicians have been trained and certified in CNG conversion technologies to support maintenance, repairs and long-term operational sustainability.
He stressed that expanding technical knowledge remains essential as more vehicles move onto Nigerian roads using gas-powered systems.
“You can build conversion centres and convert thousands of vehicles, but when those vehicles go into everyday use, mechanics across the country must understand the technology. That is why training and retraining have remained central to the initiative,” he said.
The programme has also extended into local manufacturing and assembly.
According to the agency, 4,318 CNG-powered tricycles have already been deployed, with 95 per cent assembled locally. Nigeria is also witnessing stronger activity in domestic motorcycle and tricycle assembly.
On affordability, the government maintained that CNG offers a compelling economic alternative to petrol.
Ahmed said CNG currently sells between ₦380 and ₦450 per standard cubic metre roughly equivalent to a litre of petrol compared to petrol prices ranging between ₦1,300 and ₦1,350 per litre.
“You do the maths. Where would you rather be?” he asked.
Alongside gas mobility, the government said it is also expanding its electric vehicle strategy through pilot EV deployment projects and charging infrastructure development.
Under its 2027 vision, the Presidential Initiative is targeting 2,322 CNG stations nationwide, 3,000 active conversion workshops, one million converted vehicles, 75,000 direct jobs and 300,000 indirect jobs.
If achieved, the programme could significantly alter Nigeria’s transport energy landscape, strengthen domestic gas consumption and open a new chapter in locally driven industrial growth.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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