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CNG forum urges unions, businesses to mobilise Nigerians for gas adoption – EnviroNews
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The National Compressed Natural Gas Forum (NCNG-F) has called on transport unions, organised labour, private-sector organisations and financial institutions to intensify efforts to accelerate the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel for transportation in Nigeria.
The forum said stronger collaboration among government agencies, industry operators, financial institutions and organised groups was essential to make CNG more accessible, affordable, safe and reliable for Nigerians.
The National Chairman of NCNG-F, Faruk Abdullahi, made the call on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the National CNG Adoption Conference and Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja.
Abdullahi said Nigeria needed to move beyond policy declarations and public awareness campaigns to practical measures that would encourage vehicle owners and commercial transport operators to embrace CNG.
“Our most important task is to turn stakeholder support into actual CNG adoption,” he said.
He noted that the removal of the fuel subsidy had increased transportation and production costs, placing considerable pressure on households, businesses and commercial transport operators.
According to him, CNG presents an opportunity to reduce operating costs, strengthen domestic energy utilisation, create jobs and attract investment across Nigeria’s gas value chain.
However, he stressed that the availability of natural gas alone would not guarantee widespread adoption without adequate infrastructure, affordable conversion options, reliable refuelling services, appropriate safety standards and public confidence.
“People will not convert their vehicles merely because the technology exists or because government has announced an initiative. Adoption will depend on whether the alternative is accessible, affordable, safe, reliable and economically beneficial to the people expected to use it,” Abdullahi said.
Unions urged to lead adoption drive
The NCNG-F chairman urged transport unions and professional associations to take an active role in encouraging their members to consider converting suitable vehicles to CNG.
He said transport unions could help identify eligible vehicles, connect members with credible conversion centres, negotiate group conversion arrangements and engage financial institutions to develop affordable financing options.
He also encouraged unions to organise demonstrations, awareness programmes and pilot projects that would enable commercial drivers and fleet operators to assess the potential savings under their actual operating conditions.
Abdullahi emphasised that the transition should not be imposed on transport operators without adequate information or consideration of their financial circumstances.
Instead, he said, stakeholders should provide the knowledge, financial support and infrastructure needed to help Nigerians make informed decisions about switching to CNG.
He similarly called on organised labour and workers’ associations to promote awareness among their members while ensuring that the transition addresses workers’ welfare, purchasing power and the rising cost of living.
High conversion costs, infrastructure remain challenges
Abdullahi identified the initial cost of vehicle conversion, limited access to refuelling stations, financing constraints, public awareness and safety concerns as some of the major barriers to wider CNG adoption.
He urged stakeholders to determine which challenges required government intervention, private investment or coordinated action among unions, gas suppliers, conversion centres and financial institutions.
He said potential users needed clear information about conversion costs, expected fuel savings, vehicle suitability, maintenance requirements and the availability of refuelling infrastructure.
“Our responsibility is to create the conditions in which adoption becomes a rational and achievable economic decision,” he said.
The forum also called on petroleum marketers, gas suppliers and conversion service providers to build public confidence through transparent pricing, quality installations, compliance with safety standards and reliable service delivery.
Financial institutions and investors were encouraged to explore opportunities in gas supply, refuelling infrastructure, vehicle conversion, fleet management, equipment and related services.
Abdullahi said affordable financing arrangements would be particularly important in enabling individuals, cooperatives, fleet owners, transport unions and businesses to overcome the high upfront costs associated with conversion.
Stakeholders urged to make measurable commitments
The NCNG-F chairman urged organisations participating in the meeting to develop clear action plans for promoting CNG adoption among their members.
He proposed that each organisation designate a focal person to coordinate its CNG activities, establish internal awareness programmes, identify potential beneficiaries and work with qualified industry providers to develop practical adoption pathways.
Where possible, he said, organisations should establish pilot conversion programmes, set indicative adoption targets and report progress through an agreed coordination mechanism.
He maintained that the success of the initiative should be measured by tangible outcomes, including the number of vehicles safely converted, the investments mobilised, the infrastructure developed and the economic benefits experienced by users.
“The strength of our collective effort will depend on how effectively we bring our respective memberships, resources, expertise and institutional influence to bear,” he said.
He added that government agencies and development partners would need to sustain collaboration to improve policies, expand infrastructure, strengthen standards and support access to financing.
CNG road show, national summit planned
Abdullahi also highlighted the proposed National CNG Road Show as an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of the alternative fuel and build public confidence in the initiative.
He urged transport unions, private-sector groups and industry associations to mobilise their members to participate in the proposed outreach programme.
The forum is also preparing for the Maiden National CNG Summit scheduled for October 29, 2026, which is expected to provide a broader platform for discussions on investment, infrastructure, policy coordination and the development of Nigeria’s domestic gas market.
According to Abdullahi, the events should help strengthen cooperation among stakeholders and turn commitments into practical actions that expand CNG adoption.
He stressed that support for Nigeria’s energy transition must be accompanied by viable alternatives that help households, workers and businesses adjust to changing energy costs.
“The transition must deliver tangible value to Nigerians if it is to achieve broad and lasting acceptance,” he said.
Nigeria’s gas resources offer investment opportunities
Abdullahi said Nigeria’s substantial natural gas resources and large transportation market presented opportunities to develop a more sustainable domestic fuel market.
He noted that an effective CNG ecosystem could support business competitiveness, stimulate investment, create employment and reduce exposure to the cost of conventional fuels.
However, he maintained that government, industry operators, investors and organised groups must work together to ensure that the benefits reach transport operators and other end users.
He reiterated the NCNG-F’s commitment to facilitating stakeholder engagement and supporting the development of a sustainable CNG ecosystem, stressing that the responsibility for achieving widespread adoption extended beyond any single organisation.
The conference was convened to identify barriers to adoption, clarify the responsibilities of participating organisations and develop coordinated measures to expand the use of CNG across Nigeria’s transportation and related economic sectors.
