Concerns Grow Over CNG Explosions as Federal Government Launches Probe

Nigerians are voicing serious concerns about the safety of vehicles converted to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) following a series of recent explosions. 

Questions are being raised about the safety standards and regulatory oversight of the conversion process, particularly after multiple incidents involving CNG-powered vehicles.

In May, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, led a Federal Government delegation to the scene of a CNG truck explosion in Ita-Oshin, Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

The explosion, involving a truck owned by Gascon Marine Limited, resulted in one fatality and the destruction of six vehicles and two shops. Ekpo also cited another explosion involving a CNG-powered vehicle in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The latest incident in Benin, Edo State, which occurred at a NIPCO CNG station at Ikpoba Hill, further heightened public concern. 

The explosion left two people injured and raised alarms among Nigerians considering converting their petrol-powered vehicles to CNG. NIPCO Gas revealed that the vehicle involved had been fitted with a fake, substandard cylinder not designed for CNG, which exploded after being refilled with around four standard cubic metres of gas. The driver fled the scene, leaving two injured individuals behind.

The growing number of incidents has led many Nigerians to express fears about the risks associated with CNG, particularly in a country like Nigeria, where extreme weather conditions and poor vehicle maintenance could worsen safety issues. 

Speaking to Saturday Punch, Sunday Adewuyi, a commercial driver, said, "I don’t have the money to do such a conversion, but even if I did, I wouldn't risk it. You know the type of sun we have in this country; one day the car's boot could explode."

Another driver, Udo Anefiok from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, expressed similar concerns. "They say it’s not like normal gas, but gas is gas. I cannot risk my life," he said.

Social media users also took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their anxiety about the adoption of CNG-powered vehicles, despite the government's push for CNG as a more affordable alternative to petrol.

In response, the Federal Government sought to allay fears, assuring the public that CNG is safe for vehicles when proper procedures and standards are followed. 

Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Programme for CNG Initiatives (PCNGI), explained that the Edo explosion was caused by a fake cylinder, fabricated by a welder and not sourced from an authorized dealer. 

Oluwagbemi emphasized that CNG is safe, provided that the conversion process is handled by licensed and certified professionals. The Federal Government has launched an investigation into the recent explosions, as the public awaits clearer regulatory enforcement to ensure the safety of CNG-powered vehicles across Nigeria.