The Nigerian Presidency has reassured citizens that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) remains a safe and cost-effective alternative to petrol, dismissing safety concerns stirred by Malaysia’s recent decision to phase out natural gas-powered vehicles by July 2025.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, clarified that the Malaysian government’s concerns primarily relate to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), not CNG.
This clarification comes amid rising apprehensions among Nigerians over CNG-powered vehicle safety, fueled by reports of explosions involving CNG vehicles.
“The Malaysian issue speaks more to the safety of LPG, not CNG,” Onanuga explained, citing a report in which Malaysia’s transport minister, Anthony Loke, highlighted concerns over modified vehicles using LPG cylinders, which pose significant risks.
Onanuga noted that while Malaysia’s transition from petrol and diesel faltered, countries like India, China, Iran, and Egypt have successfully adopted CNG for transportation.
He further emphasized that Malaysia’s failure stemmed from its inability to develop a manufacturing infrastructure for CNG tanks over a 15-year transition period.
In contrast, Nigeria, Onanuga said, has prioritized building this capacity from the outset, reflecting a more sustainable approach.
“Malaysia’s unsuccessful transition led to only 45,000 vehicle conversions in 15 years — less than 0.2 percent of its vehicles,” Onanuga pointed out. “Nigeria, however, is already establishing a tank manufacturing base, ensuring we avoid these pitfalls.”
The Tinubu administration has been advocating for a national transition to CNG-powered vehicles, which it argues will reduce the burden of petrol costs and emissions.
At an event in October, President Tinubu underscored the urgency of tapping Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources to modernize its transportation sector.
“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” the president stated, highlighting CNG as an “economic necessity” for the nation.
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