Experts direct CNG stakeholders to follow standard procedures to prevent explosions
•Government says one million CNG vehicles on track
Stakeholders were urged to promote the culture of adhering to standard operating procedures for conversion and refueling of CNG vehicles as it is crucial in preventing explosions. Experts insisted that CNG is a safe mechanism for vehicles if standard procedures are followed.
They stated this at a Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) webinar, arguing that the nationwide shift to cleaner energy sources in the transportation sector is expected to have a positive impact on the economy and contribute to Nigeria’s environmental goals.
The Coordinator, Regulatory Compliance and Facilitation, Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Zayyanu Tamban Yabo said the initiative converted over 30,000 vehicles to CNG in one year, remaining committed to its ambitious plans to achieve one million conversions by the end of the program.
According to him, the initiative aims to facilitate the Nigerian transport sector’s transition to cleaner energy by focusing on commercial vehicles that consume the most energy in the shortest possible time.
Yabo said the government is working with transport unions and financial institutions to offer support, incentives and financing options to make the transition process more accessible.
He added that the initiative was distributing natural gas-powered buses and tricycles as part of its efforts. “By September, we will have distributed 20 of the planned 100 buses and 200 of the estimated 500 tricycles.”
The Deputy Director of the Standard Development Coordination Division (SDCD) of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Olalekan Omoniyi, stressed that CNG is safe if standard operating procedures are followed.
He said the two incidents of CNG vehicle explosions recorded so far were due to non-compliance with standard requirements.
He therefore recommended that regulators obtain copies of relevant standards for the management and handling of CNG equipment and components.
He added that all gas stations should be required to carry out a visual inspection before refueling the cylinder, particularly checking the “print certificate, label/plate”.
Omoniyi also said that certification of staff and conversion centers should be carried out before operating licenses are granted to conversion centers.
THLD Group Managing Director, Olajuwan Oluwasegun, said gas safety and conversion standards remained a problem.
He explained that improper installations still pose a significant risk, as recent explosions demonstrated. “Even a poorly installed system can still function safely if procedures are followed correctly,” he said.
Oluwasegun called for a comprehensive review of the CNG and LPG conversion processes. He pointed out that in gasoline engines the switch allows switching between gas and petroleum, but in diesel engines the process is more complex and requires the simultaneous injection of both types of fuel. This technical distinction requires more targeted training and oversight, he said.
He, however, said the problem of overcrowded petrol stations, particularly in Benin and Ogun states where long queues of vehicles waiting for inspection were common, required improved traffic management and fueling infrastructure.