President Bola Tinubu is taking decisive steps towards reducing Nigeria’s dependence on petrol by promoting the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
In a recent announcement, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, revealed that Tinubu has directed the conversion of filling stations across the country into CNG outlets.
The president’s move is aimed at creating a more affordable, environmentally friendly, and efficient energy option for Nigerians.
The conversion of filling stations to CNG outlets is part of a broader plan to encourage Nigerians to switch from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to CNG.
Speaking after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Ekpo explained that President Tinubu had made it clear that CNG is the future of energy in Nigeria.
“We are well aware that the president set up a presidential committee on the CNG to drive the CNG project,” Ekpo said.
He noted that CNG offers significant cost savings, is safer to use, and is much better for the environment than petrol.
With these benefits, the government is pushing to ensure the adoption of CNG as a viable alternative across Nigeria.
The switch to CNG could provide a major financial relief to Nigerians, who have been burdened by the rising cost of petrol.
Ekpo highlighted the potential savings for consumers, pointing out that CNG is far cheaper than petrol.
“A litre of fuel that can go for N1,000, with CNG, you get it at N200, which saves you N800,” he said.
This drastic difference in cost is one of the key reasons the government is promoting CNG as a solution to Nigeria’s fuel price crisis.
Apart from the cost savings, the use of CNG is seen as a way to protect the environment and reduce the country’s reliance on imported petrol.
CNG is a cleaner-burning fuel, meaning it produces fewer harmful emissions than petrol.
This aligns with the global shift towards greener energy sources and the need to address climate change.
Ekpo also emphasized that Nigeria has abundant natural gas resources, and switching to CNG will allow the country to take full advantage of these resources.
By embracing CNG, Nigeria can achieve energy security while reducing its carbon footprint.
President Tinubu has made it clear that his administration is committed to pushing forward with the CNG agenda.
Ekpo shared the president’s vision, noting that the government’s goal is to ensure that “most of the filling stations across the country are converted into CNG stations.”
These stations will also provide conversion kits, allowing Nigerians to easily convert their vehicles to run on CNG.
“With the passion of Mr. President, the push that he has given to us, we’ll try as much as possible to drive the CNG programme to reach all the nooks and crannies of this country,” Ekpo said.
This ambitious plan could transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and reduce its dependence on imported fuel.
In another major decision at the FEC meeting, the government approved an initiative to boost science education in Nigeria.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has been given the green light to print one million science textbooks for secondary schools.
Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), explained that the PTDF’s new “STEM Fund” program is aimed at building Nigeria’s capacity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
This initiative is seen as critical to ensuring that Nigerian students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy.
Lokpobiri explained that the initiative will focus on subjects where Nigerian students often struggle, including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science.
“It is believed that for us to match up with the rest of the world, we needed to build capacity at the secondary school level,” he said.
The government plans to distribute the textbooks across the country, ensuring that all students have access to quality educational materials.
The program will target schools in all 774 local government areas, 104 unity schools, and 122 special schools.
This widespread distribution is aimed at leveling the playing field and giving every Nigerian student the opportunity to excel in science subjects.