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Concerns are rising over the lack of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in Northern Nigeria despite the federal government's Presidential Initiative on CNG (Pi-CNG). Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023, the initiative aims to provide a cleaner fuel alternative while mitigating the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is executing the program, which has seen billions channeled into infrastructure. However, many states, including Bayelsa, Katsina, and Plateau, lack essential CNG facilities, with only limited refuelling stations available.

While some progress has been made in training technicians and establishing conversion centres, actual utilization remains low. The initiative fell short of its projected targets for conversion centres by 2025, raising concerns about its effectiveness and commitment to a cleaner energy transition.