Experts have called for stricter safety checks, stronger certification and better infrastructure as Nigeria expands the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol.
A former National Chairperson of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), Funmilade Akingbagbohun, said the growing number of CNG-powered vehicles must be matched by stronger engineering controls, professional competence and effective monitoring.
Speaking in Lagos, Akingbagbohun said Nigeria could build a safe and sustainable CNG ecosystem if inspection, certification and data management were strengthened alongside the Federal Government’s conversion programme.
She recommended mandatory national inspection and periodic recertification of CNG-powered vehicles throughout their operating lives.
According to her, every converted vehicle should have a digital CNG identity linked to its Vehicle Identification Number, conversion kit, cylinder, installer and inspection history.
She said inspections should cover cylinder integrity and mounting, expiry dates, high-pressure lines, valves, regulators, pressure-relief devices, leak detection and electrical connections.
Other checks, she said, should include engine management systems, crashworthiness, cylinder clearance, ventilation and the overall quality of the conversion.
“The vehicle should not simply be inspected once after conversion. There should be mandatory periodic inspection, just as roadworthiness is required,” she said.
Akingbagbohun also called for a national accreditation and competency system for CNG conversion engineers and technicians.
She said accredited conversion centres should have qualified personnel, certified equipment, calibrated leak-testing and diagnostic tools, approved procedures and emergency-response systems.
She further proposed independent audits and periodic inspections to ensure that conversion centres consistently meet required safety standards.
To improve monitoring, she advocated a National CNG Safety and Incident Data System capable of tracking vehicle conversions, cylinder replacements, repairs, accidents, leaks, fires and component failures.
Such a system, she said, would allow regulators to track vehicles, conversion centres, cylinders, installers and inspection histories.
Akingbagbohun said Nigeria had made significant technical progress towards wider CNG adoption but needed to strengthen its institutions and enforcement mechanisms.
“Technically, Nigeria has made significant progress; institutionally and enforcement-wise, I would say there is still room to strengthen the systems as adoption expands,” she said.
She noted that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had developed standards covering conversion kits, cylinders, electrical connections, diagnostics, vehicle safety and refuelling infrastructure.
She called for stronger coordination among SON, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), conversion centres, engineers and vehicle owners.
The expert also urged authorities to maintain strict controls against uncertified or improperly reconditioned cylinders and components.
She said technician training should be backed by certification and continuous professional development, arguing that qualified engineers should take technical responsibility for CNG conversions involving commercial fleets and high-capacity vehicles.
Akingbagbohun said CNG could provide significant savings if supported by reliable gas supply, efficient refuelling infrastructure and proper vehicle maintenance.
She noted that the Presidential CNG Initiative had indicated that CNG could be 40 to 60 per cent cheaper per kilometre than petrol.
She therefore called for CNG corridors with reliable mother and daughter stations, adequate gas supply, backup compression, emergency-response systems and certified conversion centres.
“The biggest risk to Nigeria’s CNG programme is not CNG technology itself.
“It is the possibility that deployment could outpace engineering quality control, inspection capacity, gas infrastructure and professional competence,” she said.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Green Conversion and Assemble Ltd., Dele Clinton, called for stronger safety standards, licensing and periodic testing of CNG-powered vehicles.
Clinton urged the government to establish clear standards and penalties for conversion centres and introduce a licensing system that clearly distinguishes CNG vehicles from petrol, diesel and electric vehicles.
He also proposed annual roadworthiness tests and dedicated safety inspection centres through public-private partnerships.
Clinton said Nigeria had engineers and technicians capable of supporting the transition but stressed that continuous training and certification remained critical to sustaining public confidence in CNG.
