Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said President Bola Tinubu wants filling stations converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) outlets.
OsunDailyNG reports that Ekpo made this known while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.
Speaking on the benefits of the CNG, the Minister stated that Tinubu wants the CNG programme to reach the nooks and crannies of the country.
Ekpo also assured that gas was available in large quantities, and the only challenge was infrastructure to deliver the product to filling stations.
He, however, said Tinubu had directed that adequate infrastructure should be provided to ensure gas delivery to filling stations.
He said, “We are well aware that the President set up a Presidential Committee on the CNG to drive the CNG project. It is left for us to inform the general public that CNG has come to stay, and we have to follow that route because CNG is safe, cheaper, and protects the environment.
“It is important to note that when you are using CNG, you save a lot of money, a litre of fuel can go for N1000, but you get CNG at N200 per litre, which saves you N800.
“With the passion of Mr President, the push that he has given to us, we’ll try to drive the CNG programme to reach the nooks and crannies of this country.
“We have to take advantage of the natural resources, gas, that God has endowed us with.
“What we produce in our country is more than enough for us to use for CNG; and of course, you know, we are exporting to so many other countries.”
The Minister also stated that the high cost of conversion of cars to CNG was because the conversion kits were imported, adding that with more private investors taking advantage of the CNG project, the price would drastically come down eventually.
