Despite securing over $2 billion in private sector funding since 2023, Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure rollout has fallen short of the Federal Government’s 2025 targets, highlighting significant gaps between investment and on-the-ground delivery. Checks by Nairametrics across key agencies and industry stakeholders show that while financial backing and policy support remain strong, the actual availability of CNG refuelling stations is lagging behind projections.
The Presidential CNG Initiative (PiCNG), launched in 2023 after the removal of petrol subsidies, aimed to boost gas-powered mobility nationwide. By the end of 2025, the government had projected 500 vehicle conversion centres and over 150 retail CNG stations. However, official data indicate that only around 300 conversion centres and 40 refuelling stations are currently operational, concentrated mainly along pilot corridors and select urban areas.
Industry and government officials have struggled to provide transparent year-by-year performance updates. PiCNG’s Sales and Strategy Manager, Lara Obileye, referred inquiries to the Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), while finance officials pointed back to the initiative’s office. The lack of clear reporting has left stakeholders uncertain about actual progress toward national coverage.
Transport operators highlight practical challenges from the slow rollout. “Drivers cannot risk being stranded if stations are only available in a few corridors,” said Audu Maiturare of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Nyanya. Operators like Ben Ngilari in Abuja note that limited refuelling points complicate route planning and discourage large-scale adoption, even for fleets that have converted to CNG. Delays in equipment importation, local manufacturing constraints, regulatory approvals, and uneven state-level coordination have all slowed infrastructure deployment.
The CNG initiative remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s broader energy transition strategy, intended to reduce transport costs, curb petrol import reliance, and create jobs in conversion, logistics, and station operations. Experts stress that while investment commitments are strong, the success of the programme will ultimately hinge on faster execution, broader infrastructure coverage, and transparent reporting to demonstrate measurable progress.
source: nairametrics