By Muhammed Opeyemi
The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) has started inspecting commercial vehicles that would benefit from the free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and installation in Lagos.
TheNewsZenith reports that the exercise is part of the PCNGI as approved by President Bola Tinubu to provide a cheaper and cleaner vehicle fueling alternative for Nigerians.
Mr Olayinka Rufai, the PCNGi Special Project Adviser, supervised the inspection of the vehicles at the weekend. He said the inspection went well.
Rufai noted that most of the vehicles inspected were eligible for conversion.
According to Rufai, the initiative is targeting to convert 10,000 vehicles in the first instance.
He added that the entre would push out 1,000 vehicles within days nationwide on a first-come-first-service basis.
“Our ambitious goal is to convert one million vehicles by 2027. We are setting out with about 20 conversion centres nationwide. And, we hope to increase the number of centres soon.
“There are technical, physical and digital requirements that conversion centres need to meet before we can accredit them.
“Standards, safety and quality are important to us. We have to ensure that accredited conversion centre meets all the requirements,” TheNewsZenith quoted Rufai as saying.
He encouraged private investors to help drive the installation of CNG stations across the country.
The Project Adviser noted that the PCNGi targets commercial vehicles so that they would impact people’s disposal incomes. This will also help to reduce cost of transportation.
“We will continue to stand in front of people and tell them about this initiative.
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“This first-come-first-serve service will last for only one week,” he said.
Mr Azeez Adekanmbi, Head of Technical Department of Mezovest Energy Trading Ltd., said his centre, in partnership with PCNGi, had inspected 18 vehicles.
According to him, the centre will convert 50 commercial vehicles belonging to the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
“The conversion has not started. What we are doing now is validation of the vehicle to certify its fitness.
“On conversion, we have the contacts of persons whose vehicles are convertible, when we get the ‘go ahead’ from the organisers, we will begin the conversion,” he said.
At another centre, Mr Adeshiji Abowaba, a technician at Mezovest Energy Trading Ltd., spoke about installing a gas cylinder in the vehicle.
Abowaba explained that there would be a need to ensure that the weight would be evenly distributed to ensure balance.
According to Abowaba, the gas tank is fire and bulletproof. He added that the thickness of the tank is between 15mm and 20mm.
“People are sceptical of gas but we should understand that Liquefied Petroleum Gas and CNG are not the same.
“CNG is safe. Even when a leakage or fire occur, it cannot ignite because the pressure has been released into the air,” Abowaba said.
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