James Ekperikpe, Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), said the federal government has taken steps to increase the number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facilities throughout the nation.

The minister made this statement at the House Ad-hoc Committee's investigative hearing on the CNG Policy's implementation in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the ministry's permanent secretary, Vitalis Ibe, the minister said the cost-effective project would help address climate change and reduce emissions, among other issues. He added that more Nigerians are switching to CNG as it is safer, cleaner, and better for the environment.

Nigeria now has 300 conversion centres, up from the original seven, according to Michael Oluwagbemi, project director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) in Nigeria.

He also mentioned that the program has collaborations with many Nigerian industries to provide free vehicle conversions. He said in a leadership report that two employees found to be unsatisfactory were fired in the past few months, adding that the organisation has zero tolerance for corruption.

As it prepares to launch phase two of the program, Oluwagbemi promised the committee that states that have not yet benefited from the initiative will be reached soon, and that it has been and will continue to train more youths to engage in the dialogue.

The CNG project was praised by the Road Transport Workers’ Employees Association of Nigeria, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and other parties present at the hearing. Nevertheless, the administration was urged to ensure that every state benefited from it.

The Compressed Natural Gas Policy is a crucial part of the country’s energy transition programme, according to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. The plan, he said, is a purposeful move away from traditional fossil fuels and toward safer, cleaner, and more affordable alternatives, particularly in the transportation sector.

With Nigeria's vast natural gas reserves, Abbas, represented by Hon. Sada Soli, the Member for the Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, stated that promoting CNG as a motor fuel is not only logical but also essential for achieving our larger objectives of energy security, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification.

“Our concern is not just about the intentions of the policy, but the mechanisms of its execution — are the funds appropriated being judiciously utilised? Are Nigerians feeling the impact? Are safety and environmental standards being upheld? Are stakeholders being adequately carried along?” he added.

“This hearing is, therefore, a platform to hear directly from the relevant MDAs, operators, industry experts, and the Nigerian people. It is also an opportunity for accountability and constructive dialogue on how to ensure the successful rollout of the CNG policy in the interest of national development,” he concluded.