Engineer Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the government of the federation, has voiced reservations about the viability of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle use in Nigeria. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
He warned that the project may collapse miserably if the federal government didn’t set up the required infrastructure, as Daily Trust reported.
Lawal shared his concerns during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics program. He highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s directive for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to convert all petrol or diesel-powered vehicles and generators to CNG might be well-intentioned but lacks practical groundwork. This directive aims to ensure energy security, enhance utility, and reduce high fuel costs, with CNG-powered buses set to be unveiled on May 29, 2024, marking the administration’s one-year anniversary.
However, Lawal argued that the initiative is unsustainable and potentially a means for officials to mismanage resources. He pointed out the absence of widespread CNG refueling stations, which are crucial for the success of CNG vehicles.
Lawal recounted his personal experience, noting, “Last time they gave money to the governors to buy buses, they called it palliatives. I’ve seen one bus in my state, in Adamawa. I’ve seen one bus plying my Mubi-Yola. I took note of the number. I saw one, I’ve not seen any other one. Sometimes, we go to provide solutions that don’t make sense.”
He also addressed the impracticality of converting tractors to CNG without the necessary infrastructure. Lawal shared his conversation with a minister about the high cost of diesel for his farm operations.
He stated, “The other day, I was talking to one of the ministers, and was complaining about the cost of diesel which is spent on tractors every week. I spent about 75 litres of diesel on my farm. And that’s a lot of money. Yesterday I bought two drums of diesel which were 50 litres. I bought it for N700,000, and it lasts for one week if I’m lucky.
“When I complained, he said ‘convert your tractors to CNG’. I’m an engineer, then I asked, where in Adamawa will I get the gas? Or where am I going to get it if I’m going to Abuja and run out of gas? Where will I get the gas from? So the infrastructure must be on the ground.”
Lawal believes the government is putting the cart before the horse. He stressed the need for a robust infrastructure network for refilling CNG. “If I go buy a car or convert my car to CNG, and maybe run out of gas on my way, what do I do? Park the car and come back to Abuja with the cylinder on my head. So, there must be filling stations along the road.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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