By Ade Iyamoye
In what many have described as an unpatriotic outburst, Mr. Sina Kawonise during an interview on Arise TV, dismissed the government’s subsidy programme as corrupt and inefficient.
The ongoing patriotic effort by the Federal Government to ease transportation costs through the free distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) has come under fire from a surprising corner—Kawonise, a veteran journalist and owner of Real Autos, a company that imports CNG kits.
He alleged massive fraud in the distribution process, claiming that the kits are being funneled to the black market while his own business suffers. But critics say the real reason for his attack is far from noble.
“This is pure selfishness disguised as advocacy,” said a transport union leader in Abuja. “Mr. Kawonise imports kits and sells them for profit.
“He is only angry because the government has made the kits free for commercial drivers, cutting him off from exploiting desperate Nigerians. The masses are not complaining—he is.”
Indeed, commercial drivers across Abuja and other PCNGI catchment areas have expressed relief and gratitude for the initiative, with many willing to queue for hours just to get gas at cheaper rates rather than burn expensive petrol.
This is not about politics. It’s about people — everyday Nigerians — who have found a lifeline in CNG. Amid rising fuel prices and economic hardship, PiCNG is offering practical relief.
Commercial drivers, market traders, and low-income earners are queuing up for free gas conversion kits, not because they were forced to, but because it works. And that’s what makes Kawonise’s attack not just puzzling, but infuriating.
“Let him come and see us,” said Ahmed Suleiman, a commercial driver in Nyanya. “We are happy. We save more money now. We’d rather wait a few hours at a filling station than waste thousands on fuel daily.”
Observers say Mr. Kawonise’s attack on the PCNGI is a thinly veiled attempt to discredit a pro-poor policy in order to revive his dwindling business.
Let’s not pretend. Corrupt private players — including some kit importers — have been exposed and kicked out by PiCNG for shady dealings. One of them, C & L Smart Energy Limited, was accused of selling government-provided kits meant to be free.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is now involved. It’s no secret that these vested interests are angry. But for a respected journalist to align with their narrative, knowingly or unknowingly, is deeply troubling.
Kawonise himself admits that his vehicles were converted and that he now saves over 80% on fuel. Isn’t that the very proof of PiCNG’s success? How can one enjoy the fruits of a policy and still publicly attack its roots?
He calls the agency “irresponsible.” I call this kind of criticism dishonest.
Let’s be clear: no public policy is perfect. There will be challenges. But the PiCNG has done what few government initiatives manage — win the hearts of the people.
From the streets of Nyanya to the parks of Kaduna and Kano, the mood is one of cautious optimism. People see hope. People feel relief. People believe.
“He’s not speaking for the masses—he’s speaking for his market,” said a source close to the initiative. “His company can’t compete with the government’s gesture, so now he’s on TV shouting corruption.”
While acknowledging teething problems like long queues and limited infrastructure, many stakeholders insist that these are early-stage challenges that do not warrant sabotage from so-called experts.
“What we need is constructive input, not calculated misinformation,” an anonymous who spoke to Abuja City Journal said.
The Federal Government has reiterated that the CNG kits are free for commercial drivers in a bid to reduce transport fares and ease the burden of fuel subsidy removal.
Already, over 40,000 vehicles have reportedly been converted, and a fresh batch of 70,000 kits is expected in the coming weeks.
But rather than applaud the move, Mr. Kawonise wants the subsidy scrapped altogether. “Of course he does,” said another driver. “That way, he can go back to selling kits at inflated prices while we suffer.”
At a time when over 60% of Nigerians are living below the poverty line, many believe Mr. Kawonise’s posture is not just anti-government—but anti-people. “Let’s call him what he is: an enemy of the masses,” said a CNG technician in Lugbe. “The government is trying to help, and some people are trying to frustrate it just to make money.”
It is particularly worrisome when someone of Kawonise’s calibre uses his platform to punch down on a programme helping the poor, we must ask: whose script is he reading from?
It’s easy to sit in studios and pontificate. It’s harder to see the reality on the ground. PiCNG may not be perfect, but it is progressive. And more importantly, it is pro-people.
Kawonise is free to disagree with government policies. That is democracy. But what is unacceptable is the weaponization of partial truths to discredit a programme that is lifting burdens off the backs of ordinary Nigerians.
His voice could have amplified the good, demanded improvements, and ensured more transparency. Instead, he chose the route of cynical dismissal — and that is a disservice to the people he once spoke for.
As the PCNGI pushes forward, Nigerians will be watching closely—not just the government, but also those who claim to be helping but are actually hurting the people.
