- The House of Representatives launched an investigative hearing on the CNG policy to ensure that effective implementation is aligned.
- Lawmakers and stakeholders called for improved oversight, nationwide coverage, and collaboration across sectors.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday, July 31, described the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) policy as a cornerstone of the country’s energy transition agenda and urged transparency and accountability in its implementation.
Abbas, represented by lawmaker Sada Soli at a House ad-hoc committee hearing in Abuja, said the policy reflects a deliberate move toward cleaner, safer energy in line with global efforts to phase out fossil fuels.
“Nigeria holds vast reserves of natural gas,” Abbas said. “CNG presents a practical pathway to energy security, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification.”
Furthermore, he stressed the need to assess the policy’s intent and the quality of its execution. “Are the funds properly used? Are Nigerians experiencing real benefits? Are safety and environmental standards intact? Are stakeholders fully involved?” he asked.
The ad-hoc committee, chaired by Borno lawmaker Ahmad Jaha, launched an investigation into the policy’s rollout, raising concerns over equity in distributing CNG conversion centres and a lack of public awareness.
“While the policy offers transformative potential for low-income earners and commercial drivers, its implementation raises serious questions,” Jaha said. “We must examine safety, access, affordability, and whether the framework meets global standards.”
In addition, the committee requested detailed submissions from key ministries, including Petroleum (Gas), Finance, Transportation, Environment, and regulatory bodies. Lawmakers demanded official documents, including the CNG policy, safety protocols, contractor lists, environmental assessments, and investment breakdowns.
Jaha emphasised that the investigation aims to ensure the policy delivers results. “We are not here to obstruct progress or politicise a national programme,” he said. “We intend to verify that this initiative benefits Nigerians efficiently, equitably, and sustainably.”
He also called for stronger collaboration among upstream, midstream, and downstream operators to develop local CNG production. “If the policy is underperforming, we will find out why and offer solutions. If it works, we will document those gains,” he added.
Meanwhile, Michael Oluwagbemi, Project Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, said Nigeria currently operates 300 conversion centres and enforces a zero-tolerance policy on corruption. “We recently dismissed two staff members for misconduct,” he noted.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the CNG infrastructure. “We will continue to build more conversion centres across the country,” he said.
Lekan Ogunleye, Executive Vice President of Gas at NNPC Ltd, acknowledged past failures in CNG rollouts but said current efforts focus on enabling private sector participation. “The backbone infrastructure is already in place,” he said.
Transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, welcomed the initiative and urged the government to ensure its reach across all 36 states.
The Federal Road Safety Corps pledged full support for the programme, calling CNG a “safe, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible alternative” to traditional fuels. It urged lawmakers to strengthen legal and budgetary support for regulatory enforcement.
The House committee plans to issue recommendations following its review of all submissions.