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Subsidy removal: CNG best palliative at N100/litre, say marketers

Published

3 years ago

June 14, 2023

Subsidy removal: CNG best palliative at N100/litre, say marketers

90% ready to roll out

Oil marketers say they are about 90 per cent ready to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to high-priced petrol and diesel in Nigeria.

They also said the CNG initiative to power vehicles, generators and for cooking is the best palliative the Federal Government could possibly provide after its removal of fuel subsidy.

They spoke through the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Okoronkwo.

Okoronkwo said this on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme Monday.
He said the CNG would help bring down the cost of energy in the country.
“Very soon, we will roll out. We are 90 per cent close to that, and that will also unveil many possibilities,” he said.
“IPMAN has brought relief to a lot of families. We have got the usage of our natural energy, CNG, to power vehicles, generators, and even cooking,” the IPMAN president said.
The CNG is expected to reduce, to a large extent, the country’s exposure to fuel importation as natural gas would not be imported.
Okoronkwo noted that CNG-powered cars had started gaining momentum in the country because of increased awareness about its efficiency and affordability, compared to traditional fuels like diesel and petrol.
“If the government buys into what we are saying, it will act as an assistance, bring relief, and create job opportunities.
“What we need the government to do is create the market. The demand is there,” the IPMAN president said.
He added that IPMAN had received a lot of buy-in from companies overseas.
On what the CNG brings to the value-chain, he said, “I don’t know if you have seen what is trending this week where people with their I-pass-my- neighbour generators are beginning to use liquified petroleum gas. LPG is close to N700 per kilogramme, but this natural gas we are talking about is under N100 to N110.
“When you check what the impact will be, it will reduce the cost of food because people coming from the hinterlands bring food to the cities. From Kano, it takes them about N1.2 million to fuel trucks with diesel, but with this CNG, it will cost them about N150,000 to N200,000. About a million naira is saved that will translate to cheaper food and open up a lot of other businesses.
“It will provide cheaper energy to drive the processing zones like the agro-based industries, where the gas will also create a lot of impact.
“The CNG does not replace the PMS, but it is a choice. We are talking of something that will help your purse and not deepen it.”
The director of Gas Analytics and Solutions Limited, Shuaibu Bello, who also spoke at the Channels Television programme, said the CNG would be a game-changer for Nigerians.
“This is the best palliative you can give the nation. If you talk of palliative, it is not just sharing money with people, it is creating a system that will reach the rich and the poor.
“If you compare the CNG price at N110 per litre with petrol now at N540 or its former price of N185, still you will have a reduction,” he said.
IPMAN had in April 2023 wrote to the Finance ministry to request that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) be mandated to release N250 billion intervention fund for the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
IPMAN explained it asked for the funds to provide access to the Gas Expansion Fund for vehicle, commercial tricycle and truck owners to access loans to finance the acquisition of natural gas conversion kits.
IPMAN said that it had partnered Gas Analytics & Solutions Limited to co-locate natural gas dispensers on their network of over 30,000 filling stations in Nigeria.
According to IPMAN, it controls over 80 per cent of the downstream oil sector, and as such, the collocation model would help to reduce the exposure in building new filling stations.
Also, the manager Corporate Communications at NipCo, Biodun Lawal, speaking on the company’s desire to depeen investment in the gas sector, said the savings accruing from subsidy removal would offer more opportunities to fund the enormous gas infrastructure deficit in the nation.
“We are still investing more infrastructure with a proviso that clientele will improve sporadically
Some of the challenges in harnessing the abundant gas resources in the country includes – paucity of pipelines to transport gas across the country ,cost of conversion to use gas as auto fuel , access to gas through stations .
“With all modesty NIPCO gas Limited is the only company with over 12 CNG get to get gas for motorist” he said.
Lawal said motorists can now see the benefits in running their vehicles on gas rather than fossil fuels.
According to him, the CNG as a preferred alternative to petrol is good for gas companies as the nation at large as or offered veritable opportunity of creating more employment opportunities ,better value creation in the Industry ,better utilisation of the endowed gas resources of the country .
He said the benefits are enormous for motorists in terms of savings and lifespan of such automobiles and that the conversion cost should not be a drawback with support from the government especially with fiscal policies to encourage investors to go into kits manufacturing and ancillary items such as cylinders.
“In the interim policies can be put in place for exemption from levies of imported accessories pending when the environment will be made more conducive for its manufacturing in Nigeria CNG business has a good horizon in the country with the challenges tacked headlong

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Appeal Court Ruling on VIO Limited to Abuja, Not Lagos — LASG

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3 days ago

February 16, 2026

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Appeal Court Ruling on VIO Limited to Abuja, Not Lagos — LASG

The Lagos State Government has dismissed widespread claims that a recent Court of Appeal judgment has stripped Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) of their powers across Nigeria, insisting that the ruling applies strictly to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The clarification follows public reactions to a decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which upheld an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court restraining Vehicle Inspection Officers and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services in the FCT from stopping motorists, impounding vehicles, or imposing fines.

The judgment triggered viral interpretations suggesting that VIO operations had been outlawed nationwide.

However, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, described such interpretations as legally inaccurate and misleading.

Basis of the Court Decision

According to Pedro, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal premised their decisions on the absence of statutory authority empowering VIO officials in the FCT to stop, impound, confiscate vehicles, or impose fines on motorists.

Appeal Court Ruling on VIO Limited to Abuja, Not Lagos — LASG

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Chanrai Storms Nigeria’s Gas Market, Unveils High-Capacity CNG, LNG Solutions to Power Energy Shift

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4 days ago

February 15, 2026

Trends Admin

Chanrai Storms Nigeria’s Gas Market, Unveils High-Capacity CNG, LNG Solutions to Power Energy Shift

By Rasheed Bisiriyu

Nigeria’s drive towards cleaner and more affordable transport fuel gathered fresh momentum on Friday as Chanrai Nigeria Limited formally entered the country’s gas distribution space, unveiling high-capacity CNG and LNG compression technologies in Lagos.

The company, a member of the globally diversified Kewalram Chanrai Group, announced a strategic partnership with India’s Tulip Compression to roll out advanced compressor packages and integrated “single window” CNG solutions aimed at accelerating the Federal Government’s Presidential CNG Initiative.

Chief Operating Officer of Chanrai Nigeria Limited, Anil Sahgal, described the Tulip CNG Compressor Packages as a “game-changer” for Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.

“With our commitment to safety, efficiency and OEM-grade partnership, we’re empowering the nation to achieve its CNG ambitions while driving economic growth and environmental sustainability,” Sahgal said.

The move marks Chanrai’s expansion beyond its traditional business interests — which span automobiles, agro-products, healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods — into the fast-growing gas infrastructure segment, as fleet operators and industrial users increasingly seek alternatives to petrol and diesel.

Under the partnership, Chanrai Nigeria and Tulip Compression will deliver Compression Station on Single Window (CssW) solutions — integrating compressors, dispensers, storage and stainless-steel tubing under one brand — to simplify deployment and reduce installation timelines.

The compressor packages come in a wide capacity range, from 250 to 4,500 standard cubic metres per hour, making them suitable for small refuelling stations as well as large gas hubs.

A 1,400 SCMH gas engine-driven booster compressor is designed to refuel heavy-duty CNG trucks in about 20 minutes by drawing gas from tube trailers.

The systems are available in both electric motor-driven and gas engine-driven configurations, eliminating the need for large gas generators while ensuring energy efficiency and lower life-cycle costs.

According to the company, the equipment features dual-chamber leak-proof safety systems, advanced sealing technology to eliminate gas loss and global certifications including ATEX, CE, BIS and SGS standards.

The unveiling underscores the growing private sector response to government reforms encouraging gas adoption as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative fuel.

With the compressor packages now available for immediate orders, Chanrai Nigeria said it would provide 24/7 after-sales support, operations and maintenance services, as well as remote asset monitoring solutions.

The development signals intensifying investment in CNG infrastructure as Nigeria seeks to deepen local gas utilisation, reduce fuel import dependence and cushion consumers from volatile petrol prices.

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Lagos Motor Fair, Autoparts Expo to begin March 17, targeting Investment, Industry Growth

Published

6 days ago

February 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Motor Fair, Autoparts Expo to begin March 17, targeting Investment, Industry Growth

The 20th edition of the Lagos International Motor Fair and the 13th Africa Autoparts Expo is set to spotlight investment, technology transfer and industry collaboration as organisers intensify efforts to position Nigeria as a major automotive hub in West Africa.

The three-day event, which will also incorporate the Africa Motorcycle and Tricycle Expo, is scheduled to hold from March 17 to 19, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.

Organisers said the upcoming edition would focus strongly on accelerating the development of the country’s automotive sector by creating platforms that connect global manufacturers with local industry players.

“Nigeria has all it takes to become a global automotive industry giant,” the organisers stated, noting that the fair remains a strategic contribution toward driving growth despite prevailing industry challenges.

Chairman of the Organising Committee, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, said the exhibitions had over the years evolved into a key platform for attracting investment into automobile spare parts and accessories manufacturing while strengthening aftermarket activities across the region.

“We have consistently used these events to attract investment into auto components manufacturing and to showcase the enormous capacity and potential of this critical sector of the economy,” he said.