Replicate Lagos CNG success in Rivers —PETROAN urges Rivers Gov’t
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged the Rivers State Government to replicate the Lagos Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) success in Rivers State.
The National President of PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, made the call while speaking to newsmen in Lagos during an inspection of CNG refuelling locations.
Gillis-Harry said Rivers State has a unique advantage to develop a strong domestic gas economy, given its status as one of Nigeria’s leading oil and gas-producing states, industrial base and strategic location.
He urged the state government to study the emerging CNG model being implemented in Lagos State and develop a programme suited to Rivers’ own transportation needs, industrial capacity and gas resources.
“Rivers State has the resources, the industrial base and the strategic position to become a major CNG and gas-based transportation hub. We should not continue to produce gas without fully taking advantage of it to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
PETROAN said greater adoption of CNG in Rivers could reduce transportation and operating costs for commercial transporters, including buses, taxis and other high-mileage vehicles, while attracting investment, creating jobs, supporting local businesses and strengthening energy security.
The association proposed the establishment of a Rivers State CNG Conversion and Transportation Programme, which would include CNG conversion centres across major transportation corridors and incentives to make vehicle conversion more affordable.
It also called for partnerships between the state government, private investors and gas companies to establish CNG refuelling infrastructure across the state.
PETROAN recommended the integration of CNG-powered buses into the state’s public transportation system, as well as the gradual adoption of CNG-powered vehicles by government ministries, departments and agencies.
The association further proposed a stakeholder framework involving the Rivers State Government, gas producers, petroleum marketers, transport operators, vehicle conversion companies and financial institutions.
According to PETROAN, affordable financing will be critical to enabling commercial transport operators to convert their vehicles from petrol and diesel to CNG.
PETROAN also said the development of CNG infrastructure should complement rather than threaten the downstream petroleum sector.
The association urged petroleum marketers to participate in the emerging gas economy by investing in CNG infrastructure and transforming existing filling stations into multi-energy stations offering petrol, diesel, CNG and other approved energy products.
Gillis-Harry said petroleum marketers must be positioned to participate actively in Nigeria’s transition towards a broader and more diversified energy market.
PETROAN commended the Lagos State Government for its initiatives aimed at supporting CNG adoption through infrastructure development, vehicle conversion and public transportation.
However, the association said Rivers State should not simply replicate the Lagos model but develop an approach that reflects its own oil and gas resources, industrial capacity, transportation needs and economic opportunities.
It also urged the Rivers State Government to work with the Federal Government’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) and other stakeholders to accelerate CNG development in the state.
PETROAN said Rivers has an opportunity to transition from being primarily an oil-producing state to becoming a major gas-utilising state by developing infrastructure that supports gas-based transportation and other domestic applications.
The association said a comprehensive CNG roadmap could help the state reduce transportation costs, attract investment, create employment and increase the local utilisation of its gas resources.
PETROAN added that it is ready to collaborate with the Rivers State Government, Federal Government, gas producers, petroleum marketers, transport operators and investors to advance CNG development in the state.