The cost of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has jumped from N230 to N450 per standard cubic metre, triggering fresh anxiety among motorists battling with few refuelling stations and long queues.
While trucks now pay the full N450/SCM, cars and commercial buses are charged N380/SCM. A PCNGI official explained: โThe refuelling stations now sell at different prices for cars and trucks. Subsidy is meant to ease passenger transport, but trucks carrying goods pay higher.โ
Retailers confirmed that NNPC Gas Marketing Limited approved the new rates, warning it may soon rise to between N500 and N600. โThe government subsidised it to attract users, but with the new review, we are seeing those subsidies being reduced,โ one retailer said.
Motorists fear the development may discourage adoption. Ride-hailing driver Adeyemi Paul lamented: โSome spent up to N1.5m to convert vehicles to CNG. With this increase and 1.5km-long queues at stations, many may be forced back to petrol.โ
CNG was introduced in 2023 as a cheaper alternative following petrol subsidy removal, which pushed pump prices from N175 to N870 per litre. Over 100,000 vehicles have since been converted, and government officials insist more refuelling stations and conversion centres are coming. But with rising prices and poor infrastructure, many Nigerians are questioning if the initiative can be sustained.
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