Nigeria's Pi-CNG/EV chief emphasizes gas availability for affordable mobility

Ismaeel Ahmed, Chairman and CEO of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG/EV), stated that the availability of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is essential to making clean mobility affordable for Nigerians.

Speaking in Abuja, Ahmed explained that the government is working to build a complete CNG industry from the ground up, covering gas production, processing, transportation, compression, and distribution. He noted that reducing transportation costs is a priority, as Nigerians currently spend between 15 per cent and 25 per cent of their income on transport, a figure exacerbated by rising global oil prices.

Ahmed credited the administration of President Bola Tinubu with providing the political backing necessary to elevate CNG to a national project. While Nigeria possesses the required resources and technology, Ahmed identified the simultaneous creation of demand and the assurance of adequate supply as the primary challenges. He also noted that addressing public misconceptions regarding the safety of CNG cylinders remains a hurdle to widespread adoption.