Motorists in Minna, the capital of Niger State, have staged a protest over the unavailability of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at a local NNPC Mega Station for roughly three months, complaining that the extended scarcity has ruined their plans to lower fuel expenses.
The motorists staged the protest on Saturday at the station along the Western Bypass axis of the metropolis, expressing frustration over their inability to refuel vehicles converted from Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to CNG.
They said they had spent substantial sums converting their vehicle engines to CNG because it was cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but had been forced to return to petrol due to the persistent shortage.
The disruption was reportedly caused by a faulty component in the station’s CNG dispensing machine, which motorists alleged had not been repaired despite repeated visits to seek a resolution.
With no alternative CNG dispensing facility available to them in the state capital, affected vehicle owners said they had been left to rely on the more expensive petrol, increasing their running costs and placing additional pressure on their finances.
One of the protesters, Israel Ogbonnaya, said motorists had resorted to demonstrating after several visits to the station failed to produce a satisfactory response.
The shortage raises concerns about the reliability of CNG refuelling infrastructure as Nigeria encourages motorists to adopt alternative fuels to reduce dependence on petrol and ease transportation costs.
Affected motorists are calling for urgent repairs to the dispensing equipment and a lasting solution to the supply disruption, so they can benefit from the cost savings that informed their decision to convert their vehicles.
What You Should Know
Drivers who previously spent money to convert their vehicle engines to run on Compressed Natural Gas are now stranded because a dispensing machine has remained broken for months without repairs. With no other CNG stations available in the state capital, affected motorists have no choice but to buy more expensive petrol, driving up their daily transportation costs.
- Positive Impact: Highlights the growing demand for cleaner and more affordable alternative fuel solutions among Nigerian drivers.
- Potential Concerns: Exposes weaknesses in local infrastructure and maintenance support, discouraging other motorists from embracing government-backed fuel transitions due to fear of supply disruptions.
