The Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG&EV), Ismael Ahmed, has called for commercial vehicles in Nigeria to switch from petrol and diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Ahmed proposed that the transition should become mandatory for commercial transport operators as part of efforts to reduce the sector’s reliance on conventional fuels. He made the proposal while speaking on Nigeria’s push to expand the use of alternative energy sources in the transportation sector.
According to him, commercial vehicles should be prioritised in the transition because of their high fuel consumption and their important role in daily transportation across the country. Ahmed said Nigeria has an estimated 12 million vehicles, with commercial vehicles making up between 55 and 60 per cent of the total. He argued that increasing the use of CNG among commercial operators could help lower transportation costs by providing an alternative to petrol and diesel.
The PI-CNG&EV chairman also pointed to the government’s ongoing efforts to increase access to CNG through the expansion of refuelling infrastructure and other initiatives supporting the conversion of vehicles.
He noted that electric vehicles would also form part of Nigeria’s long-term transition to cleaner transportation as the country develops the infrastructure required for wider adoption.
The proposed compulsory shift comes amid continued efforts by the Federal Government to promote alternative fuels and reduce the transportation sector’s dependence on petrol.
If implemented, the proposal would affect a large number of buses, taxis, tricycles and other commercial vehicles that currently depend on petrol or diesel for their daily operations.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
