Five additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations have been commissioned in Lagos as part of efforts to expand access to alternative fuel and reduce transportation costs in the state.
The stations located in Ajah, Idimu, Abule Egba, Oko-Oba and Ogolonto, were developed by the IBILE Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) in partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF).
The commissioning ceremony was held at the IBILE Oil and Gas CNG station in Ogolonto, Agric, Lagos.
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Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IOGC, Temitayo Gbajumo, said the facilities were part of a wider plan to establish 15 CNG stations across Lagos, with six others expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.
He said the project would make CNG more accessible to vehicle owners and provide businesses and households with a cheaper alternative to conventional fuels.
"This project is about creating an ecosystem that delivers affordable energy to Nigerians, reduces transportation costs for businesses and households, and provides the infrastructure required to support the widespread adoption of CNG-powered vehicles," Gbajumo said.
He commended the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government and the MDGIF for their support, saying collaboration among government institutions and industry stakeholders was essential to expanding the country's gas infrastructure.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of MDGIF, Oluwole Adama, said the five stations had a combined storage capacity of 45,640 standard cubic metres of gas and could serve about 8,400 vehicles daily when operating at full capacity.
He said the facilities would particularly benefit commercial transport operators, whose businesses depend heavily on fuel costs.
"For the commercial driver, this means less time in a queue and more time on the road earning. For the fleet owner, it means a fuel bill that is easier to plan for," Adama said.
He added that the projects could also create employment opportunities in operations, safety, maintenance, logistics and technical services.
Adama, however, said the success of the facilities would depend on reliable gas supply, proper maintenance and adherence to safety standards.
"Commissioning is only the beginning. The real achievement will be safe operations, reliable supply, professional maintenance and lasting public confidence," he said.
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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the projects aligned with President Bola Tinubu's directive to expand CNG infrastructure nationwide, including an additional 500 refuelling stations towards a planned national network of 1,000 stations.
He said the Federal Government was working with state governments, investors and other industry stakeholders to make cleaner fuel more accessible to Nigerians.
Ekpo said the impact of the investments should go beyond the number of facilities commissioned, stressing that the ultimate objective was to ease the financial burden on Nigerians.
"Our objective is therefore not simply to count the number of stations commissioned. Success must ultimately be measured by impact: whether the infrastructure helps reduce operating costs for transporters and businesses, whether those savings reach commuters, and whether Nigerian families begin to feel tangible relief," he said.
He commended the Lagos State Government and IOGC for supporting the Federal Government's gas utilisation programme, describing the partnership as the type of collaboration needed to expand CNG infrastructure across the country.
Ekpo said the Federal Government would continue to work with state governments and private sector investors to expand CNG infrastructure, adding that the success of the initiative would depend on whether the facilities translated into lower operating costs for transporters and more affordable transportation for commuters.
