Abuja, Oct. 28, 2023 – Seven Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion cenres have been established in the country.
Zacch Adedeji, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), said this at the handing over of 2 CNG buses to the State House in Abuja on Friday.
Adedeji was represented by Farouk Ahmed, the Managing Director of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
He said the establishment of the CNG conversion centres indicated the commitment of President Tinubu administration to spearhead energy revolution in the country.
Adedeji promised that more CNG conversion centres would be established across the country.
He described the effort as a pivotal step in the country’s journey towards a cleaner and economically sound future.
Adedeji said the project was not only about the conversation of vehicles but also creating employment opportunities.
Adedeji said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) would waive VAT on CNG purchases and seek duty waivers for the value chain.
“This CNG buses to be handed over to the State House are the vanguard of a future, where energy is cleaner and more economical.’’
“I’m pleased to announce that there are currently seven conversion centres in Nigeria and the government is actively working to establish more of them. These plans will be rolled out, starting this afternoon, by the initiative.
“This project is not only about conversion of vehicles but also about generating employment opportunities. It demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
“Moreover, it is my pleasure as your Chief Tax Officer, a position I hold alongside as Chairman of this initiative, to announce that we will be waiving the Value Added Tax on CNG purchases as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain.
“The goal is to build a sustainable future, leveraging our own cheap and clean energy source; gas.’’
AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) described the event as a milestone for Nigeria as it starts a gradual transition from petroleum to gas powered vehicles.
AbdulRazaq, who is the Governor of Kwara State, said that universities would be the first beneficiaries of the buses and urged state governments to key into it. (GBN)
“For those of us who were in the gas industry, this is what we have been calling for decades.
“Nigeria is gas country not a crude oil country, 70 per cent or there about, more of our hydrocarbon is gas. So why are we investing all our time and energy in crude oil?
“Today is a turning point for us that President Tinubu has taken this bold decision to move from petroleum to gas. This is the first step in a major change to come.” (GBN)
