Inspection of commercial vehicles that will benefit from free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and installation has begun at Lagos centres.
The exercise is part of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) and approved by President Bola Tinubu for provision of a cheaper and cleaner vehicle fueling alternative for Nigerians.
At the inspection on Saturday, Mr Olayinka Rufai, PCNGi Special Project Adviser, said that the inspection went well.
He said that most of the vehicles inspected were eligible for conversion.
According to Rufai, the conversion incentive programme is supposed to take, in its first tranch, about 10,000 vehicles.
He added that 1,000 vehicles would be pushed out within days nationwide on first-come-first-service basis.
“Our very ambitious goal is to convert a million vehicle by 2027. We are setting out with about 20 conversion centres nationwide, and we hope to increase the number of conversion centres.
“There are requirements – technical, physical and digital that conversion centres need to meet, before they will be accredited.
“Standards, safety and quality are very important to us, and we have to ensure that wherever becomes an accredited conversion centre is a place that meets all the requirements,” he said.
On availability of CNG filling stations, he encouraged private investors to help to install CNG stations across the country.
He said that commercial vehicles were mostly targeted so that they would impact on people’s disposal incomes and help to reduce amounts spent on transport.
“We will continue to stand in front of people and tell them about this initiative. This first-come-first service is supposed to be exhausted in a week,” he said.
Mr Azeez Adekanmbi, Head of Technical Department of Mezovest Energy Trading Ltd., said that about 18 vehicles had been inspected.
According to Adekanmbi, Mezovest, in conjunction with PCNGi, will convert 50 commercial vehicles belonging to an aassociation such as Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers.
“The conversion has not started, what we are doing now is validation of the vehicle to certify its fitness.
“When we are done with the 50 assigned to us, it is left for the organisers to give us the go ahead to inspect more vehicles.
“On conversion, we have the contacts of persons whose vehicles are fit for conversion, and when we get the ‘go ahead’ from the organisers, we will commence conversion,” he said.
Mr Adeshiji Abowaba, a technician at Mezovest Energy Trading Ltd., said that in installing the cylinder, there would be need to ensure that the weight would be evenly distributed to ensure balance.
According to Abowaba, the gas tank is fire and bullet proof.
He added that the thickness of the tank was between 15mm and 20mm.
“People are sceptical of gas but we should understand that Liquefied Petroleum Gas and CNG are not the same.
“CNG is safe. Even when there is a leakage or fire, it cannot ignite because the pressure has been released to the thin air.
