{"id":67231,"date":"2025-06-04T05:13:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T05:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/?p=67231"},"modified":"2025-06-04T05:13:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T05:13:14","slug":"why-nigerias-cng-vehicle-scheme-deserves-support-not-dismissal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/2025\/06\/04\/why-nigerias-cng-vehicle-scheme-deserves-support-not-dismissal\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Nigeria\u2019s CNG Vehicle Scheme Deserves Support, Not Dismissal"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Maulud Tafida-Isa<\/strong><\/p>\n

In response to the Vanguard Newspapers article published on June 2, 2025, titled \u201cFG\u2019s Gas-Powered Vehicle Scheme Runs into a Major Hitch Nationwide,\u201d I feel compelled to offer a broader perspective in response to the recent article. While the challenges raised are valid indeed, many of them deserve urgent attention. It is equally important to expand the conversation beyond Nigeria\u2019s immediate hurdles and consider the wider, global context of transitioning a country toward Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a mainstream fuel source.<\/p>\n

Yes, the journey so far has been anything but smooth. There are undeniable issues: infrastructure gaps, regulatory delays, public scepticism, and logistical setbacks. The article does well to highlight these. However, framing the entire initiative as off-track based solely on these early-stage challenges risks missing the broader point. There have been measurable achievements over the past two years key performance indicators that show real, tangible progress. Ignoring these successes undermines the complexity of such an ambitious transition and diminishes the efforts of those working to make it happen.<\/p>\n

Moreover, this is not a uniquely Nigerian story. Countries like India, Brazil and Argentina, have faced and, in some cases, are still grappling with similar obstacles. The shift to CNG as a viable, mainstream fuel is inherently complex. It demands sustained political will, infrastructural investment, behavioural change, and time. In the sections that follow, I will provide a global perspective to contextualize Nigeria\u2019s experience and illustrate why early struggles should not be mistaken for failure but rather understood as part of the long arc of energy transition.
\nA Global Perspective<\/p>\n

In places like India, Brazil, and Argentina, rolling out CNG took decades. It involved trial and error, ongoing investment, shifting public perception, and steady policy support. These are no overnight success stories they are long term efforts that grew in phases.<\/p>\n

For instance, since the late 1990s, India has invested in CNG infrastructure. By 2025, the CNG vehicles market is projected to reach USD 10.38 billion, growing at a CAGR of 6.88% to USD 13.55 billion by 2029. Even today, India continues to face challenges related to infrastructure expansion, supply logistics, and public acceptance. The journey has been long, complex, and at times controversial but undeniably impactful.<\/p>\n

Similarly, countries in Latin America such as Argentina and Brazil, which are often lauded for their CNG usage, have spent decades building their networks. In 2022, Brazil saw a 74% increase in natural gas vehicle conversions in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2020, with nearly 70,000 cars adopting natural gas. Even in advanced economies like Italy or Iran (a top CNG adopter), progress has come incrementally, and only through a combination of policy consistency, investment in infrastructure, and sustained public engagement. The point here is simple: no country builds a successful CNG ecosystem overnight. It is a gradual evolution, not a quick fix.<\/p>\n

Nigeria\u2019s Program: Still Young, Still Promising<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nigeria\u2019s CNG initiative is barely two years old. In that short time, foundational steps have been taken conversion centers are continually opened, a number of CNG-powered buses have been rolled out, and awareness campaigns have begun to take shape. Yes, there are delays. Yes, some areas still lack access. But none of this should be seen as a sign of failure, it is the inevitable process of building a nationwide energy transition infrastructure from scratch.<\/p>\n

What often goes unreported are the small but meaningful wins, private sector interest is growing, local partnerships are emerging, and public dialogue is increasingly turning toward sustainable fuel alternatives. These are encouraging signs, and they must not be drowned out by the louder noise of frustration and scepticisms.<\/p>\n

Why We Must Stay the Course<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nigeria has a unique opportunity to leapfrog into a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future. With abundant natural gas reserves, the country is well-positioned to make this shift not just as a way to reduce fuel costs, but also to cut emissions and reduce dependence on imported petrol.<\/p>\n

But big visions require bold patience. They require support not only from policymakers and investors but from the public and media as well. Constructive criticism is necessary, but so is acknowledgment of progress. Programs of this scale thrive on momentum, and constant narratives of failure, especially in their early phases, risk undermining public trust and stakeholder commitment.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Rather than asking \u201cWhy haven\u2019t we arrived?\u201d, perhaps the more constructive question is \u201cAre we moving in the right direction?\u201d By global standards and considering our starting point, the answer is yes. Nigeria\u2019s CNG journey is on track. What it needs now is encouragement, collaboration, and the long view.<\/p>\n

Let us not judge a two-year-old program by the standards of nations who have been at it for 20. Let us instead nurture this effort with the urgency, seriousness, and optimism it deserves<\/p>\n

Dr. Maulud Tafida-Isa is a global sustainability expert that resides in Abuja and London.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Maulud Tafida-Isa In response to the Vanguard Newspapers article published on June 2, 2025, titled \u201cFG\u2019s Gas-Powered Vehicle Scheme Runs into a Major Hitch Nationwide,\u201d I feel compelled to offer a broader perspective in response to the recent article. While the challenges raised are valid indeed, many of them deserve urgent attention. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":67235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1689,181],"tags":[287,59,1707],"class_list":["post-67231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-crime","tag-cng","tag-featured","tag-picng"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67231"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67236,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67231\/revisions\/67236"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abujacityjournal.com\/livenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}