Commercial drivers operating vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) have yet to reduce transport fares despite benefiting from significantly lower fuel costs than petrol, according to an official of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Nigeria Gas Safety Conference in Abuja on Thursday, the initiative’s Chief Compliance Officer, Engr. Zayyanu Tambari, attributed the delay to limited competition among CNG-powered transport operators.
Tambari explained that as more commercial drivers switch to CNG, increased competition is expected to drive down transport fares, allowing passengers to benefit from the lower operating costs.
“This is a teething problem and basically the desire of the drivers to maximize profit,” he said.
The Presidential Initiative official described the conference as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between government agencies and private-sector stakeholders to enhance the development and safety of Nigeria’s gas industry.
Addressing public concerns over the safety of CNG cylinders installed in vehicle trunks, Tambari dismissed fears of explosions, stressing that certified cylinders are engineered to withstand pressures well above their normal operating limits.
“If a cylinder is licensed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, then it is well made,” he said. “The gas is designed for 220 bar of pressure, and the cylinders are designed to take more pressure, up to 300 bar.”
He added that changes in ambient temperature do not increase the risk of a CNG cylinder exploding inside a vehicle.
Tambari also warned motorists against purchasing counterfeit or substandard CNG cylinders, noting that fake products often have visible manufacturing defects.
“When you see those cylinders, they are usually so thick and have welded parts,” he said. “Once you see those signs, it is a flag that something is wrong with the cylinder.”
