Wabba urges FG to establish CNG stations in 774 LGAs

Dr Ayuba Wabba, immediate past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged the Federal Government to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

Wabba made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Monday, saying the move would help cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on Nigerians.

Newsmen report that Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sept. 10 increased its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price by N85 per litre, from N1,265 to N1,350, putting fresh pressure on petrol prices nationwide.

Wabba said although many Nigerians had embraced CNG as an alternative fuel, the lack of adequate filling stations across the country remained a major challenge.

He said establishing CNG dispensing stations in every LGA would make it easier for motorists to travel long distances without fear of running out of fuel.

“If people are transporting goods or services from one part of the country to another and the CNG finishes, where will they refill it?

“The Federal Government should establish dispensing stations for CNG in the 774 local governments so that if people are travelling from Lagos to Maiduguri or Port Harcourt, for instance, and they run short of CNG, they can refill their tanks.

“But at present, this is not the case,” he said.

Wabba, who said he owned a CNG-powered vehicle, noted that the current shortage of CNG stations could leave motorists stranded on long journeys.

“I have a CNG vehicle. If I’m travelling from here to Maiduguri now, in fact, I will be stranded on the road because if I fill 100kg, it will not take me to Jos.

“It will actually finish around the forest area in Jos. So, how do I now manage to get to Jos?

“These are the critical questions that require answers,” he said.

The former NLC president said having CNG stations in every council area would encourage more Nigerians to adopt the alternative fuel and make refuelling more convenient.

Wabba also expressed concern over the continued increase in the pump prices of petroleum products, saying it had exposed millions of Nigerians to the forces of the market.

“Energy security is very strategic in every country. Therefore, government needs to come up with a very quick response.

“Looking at the economic challenges facing Nigerians, this price fluctuation, or paying more again for PMS, will certainly push many more Nigerians into poverty and multidimensional poverty.

“In fact, the major trigger for pushing Nigerians into poverty is actually this fluctuation in the price of petroleum products, particularly PMS and diesel.

“Many Nigerians have to power their businesses, while many others have to transport goods and services from one part of the country to another.

“So, there is no way energy will not be a very central issue in the prosperity of Nigerians,” he said.

Wabba said every increase in the price of PMS translated into greater hardship for Nigerians and higher operating costs for businesses.

“With the adjustment in the price of petrol, hovering now around N1,400 in many places, it means more suffering for Nigerians, and it means businesses will suffer.

“It means families will go without having three meals on their table per day. In fact, some have reduced it even to one.

“So, the best way to respond to all of this is to holistically look at the value chain and the issue of refineries.

“The only refinery now is Dangote, so government and NNPC must find a way of giving him crude oil.

“When you supply him crude oil, I know as a matter of fact that a lot of hidden costs will actually be dropped,” he said.