No, bus that caught fire in Nigeria's Ebonyi state wasn't running on natural gas
IN SHORT: Some Facebook users blamed compressed natural gas after a bus burst into flames in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. But there's no evidence that the bus was running on CNG.
According to several social media posts, an 18-seater bus running on compressed natural gas, or CNG, caught fire following an accident in the south-east state of Ebonyi, Nigeria.
One post, dated 27 October 2024, reads: "Fatal Accident In Abakiliki Ebonyi State, As All Passengers On Board Got Burnt To Ashes Because Of CNG."
The post features two photos showing the alleged aftermath of the fire.
CNG is a natural gas used as an alternative to traditional fossil fuels, such as petroleum and diesel. It is stored in high-pressure cylinders and is used in various applications, particularly as a cleaner fuel for vehicles.
The Nigerian government established the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) in August 2023 to promote and enable the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel. The government provided incentives for CNG conversion to address the challenges posed by rising fuel costs and air pollution.
However, some Nigerians have resisted the move, citing the dangers of converting their vehicles to natural gas. There have also been reports of CNG-powered vehicles being involved in accidents, adding to the fears.
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Social media users who made the claim have blamed the fire on the bus's conversion from petrol to CNG.
The same claim was found here, here, here, here and here.
But was the bus running on CNG? We checked.
No evidence to support the claim
A reverse image search of the two photos led us to a news article by Nigerian newspaper the Guardian.
In the article, one of the injured survivors said the driver was speeding shortly before the crash. She said the bus caught fire due to a rupture in the fuel tank caused by the impact.
The article did not mention CNG. There was also no mention of CNG in other reports by credible media outlets.
Ebonyi police also confirmed to the press that the bus crashed and burst into flames after encountering obstacles on the road. However, they did not mention that it was running on CNG.
The PCNGI also said there was no evidence of the vehicle running on natural gas.
"The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative strongly condemns the false information circulating on social media ... CNG is safe; its tanks are both bulletproof and fireproof, ensuring they will not explode in the event of an accident. Even in the event of a leak, the gas is not self flammable and will dissipate into the atmosphere safely," the organisation wrote on X.
We found no evidence supporting the claim that the bus burst into flames because it ran on CNG.
