CNG Drivers Yet to Cut Fares Despite Lower Fuel Costs – Official
|By Prosper Okoye
Commercial drivers using Compressed Natural Gas have yet to pass on the benefits of lower fuel costs to passengers despite paying significantly less than petrol users, an official of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG) has said.
The initiative's Chief Compliance Officer, Engr. Zayyanu Tambari, attributed the situation to limited competition among CNG-powered commercial transport operators, saying market forces would eventually drive down transport fares as more vehicles convert to gas.
Tambari spoke on Thursday on the sidelines of the Nigeria Gas Safety Conference 2026, held in Abuja under the theme "Gas Safety: Strengthening Systems for an Expansive Domestic Gas Economy." The conference brought together regulators, operators and investors to discuss safety, compliance and the expansion of Nigeria's domestic gas economy.
"This is a teething problem, and basically the desire of the drivers to maximize profit," he said.
He expressed confidence that increasing adoption of CNG-powered vehicles would create competition among operators and ultimately make transport fares more affordable for commuters.
Tambari described the conference as a platform for strengthening collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders to improve gas safety and support Nigeria's transition to a gas-powered economy.
Addressing safety concerns, he dismissed fears that CNG cylinders installed in vehicle trunks could explode when properly certified.
"If a cylinder is licensed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, then it is well made. The gas is designed for 220 bar of pressure, and the cylinders are designed to take more pressure, up to 300 bar," he said.
He added that normal temperature changes inside a vehicle's trunk do not pose an explosion risk.
Tambari also urged motorists to avoid counterfeit cylinders, saying substandard products are often easy to identify.
"When you see those cylinders, they are usually so thick and have welded parts. Once you see those signs, it is a flag that something is wrong with the cylinder," he said.
Tags: #CNG #Transportation #EnergyTransition
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