Nigeria's CNG Conversion Drive Hits Roadblocks over Financing and Infrastructure

Nigeria's push to expand the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol and diesel is facing a combination of financing, infrastructure, safety, and operational challenges. Vehicle owners are experiencing difficulties with the upfront cost of conversion, limited refuelling infrastructure, long queues at stations, and concerns about the quality and safety of installations.

For many motorists, the initial cost of converting a petrol-powered vehicle to CNG remains one of the biggest barriers. The cost of conversion can run into hundreds of thousands of naira, making the transition difficult for motorists who depend on their vehicles for their daily income.

Even subsidised conversion remains significant for some vehicle owners. For example, an Abuja commercial driver spent N650,000 converting his vehicle and found that CNG was more profitable than petrol. However, he experienced major challenges accessing the fuel.

The potential savings from CNG remain one of the strongest arguments for conversion. A vehicle owner reportedly reduced weekly fuel expenditure from about N300,000 on petrol to approximately N22,000 on CNG after converting his vehicle. However, others have reported similar savings but also identified maintenance as a challenge.

The expansion of CNG-powered vehicles requires a coordinated network of conversion centres, trained technicians, gas supply infrastructure, and refuelling stations. Where stations are inadequate, vehicle owners can spend several hours waiting for gas or travel considerable distances to find an operational station.