By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Federal Government has said that it would convert 10 million petrol-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicles in the next three years.
This was contained in a statement by the Spokesperson for the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Louis Ibah, where it was noted that the Minister, Ekperikpe Ekpo, said this while speaking on a panel tagged, “Energy Talk” at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Progressive Energy Congress (ADIPEC) 2023 conference and exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the Minister, the initiative was in partnership with the private sector. He noted that the ministry is working with the organized private sector to roll out over two million CNG conversion kits for free within the next nine months in order to push the utilization of CNG as the main fuel for vehicles nationwide.
Ekpo said that the key benefits of the initiative include creating over 100,000 jobs for Nigerians, increasing government savings from reduced subsidy payout for the importation of Petroleum products, and reducing carbon emission following the utilization of clean gas to drive internal combustion engines.
He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to creating an enabling operational and fiscal environment to support investments in the upstream, midstream, and downstream gas sectors.