The Presidency has sought to ease concerns about the safety of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles, which were recently introduced in Nigeria as an alternative to petrol-powered cars.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, responded to reports regarding Malaysia’s decision to phase out CNG-powered vehicles by 2025. Onanuga took to X on Thursday to clarify the distinction between Malaysia’s concerns and Nigeria’s approach.
The announcement from Malaysia, as reported by Free Malaysia Today, revealed that the Malaysian government plans to phase out CNG vehicles and halt the sale of new natural gas-powered cars by July 2025. Transport Minister Anthony Loke cited safety concerns related to the ageing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanks, which have a safe usage lifespan of approximately 15 years. Without replacement, these tanks may become unsafe and pose risks to road users.
However, Onanuga emphasized that Malaysia’s policy primarily pertains to LPG, not CNG, and pointed out that Nigeria’s adoption of CNG was made specifically due to its safety and cost-effectiveness. “Some clarification on Malaysia’s plan to phase out CNG-powered vehicles: The Malaysian issue relates to the safety of LPG, NOT CNG,” Onanuga clarified. He further explained that Nigeria had chosen to adopt CNG only, after thoroughly assessing the safety and cost concerns regarding LPG.
Onanuga also highlighted that Malaysia’s CNG adoption faced challenges, with a conversion rate of only 0.2% over 15 years, while countries like India, China, Iran, and Egypt have seen more significant success. He noted that Malaysia struggled to replace 15-year-old tanks due to limited manufacturing capacity, whereas Nigeria, in its first year of CNG adoption, is already addressing such issues with plans to develop domestic tank manufacturing capacity.
Nigeria introduced its CNG initiative in 2024, aiming to reduce reliance on petrol, while Malaysia initially adopted CNG for taxis and airport limousines in the late 1990s. Onanuga reassured Nigerians that the government is prioritizing safety in its push for CNG adoption, ensuring it remains a viable, long-term alternative fuel for the country’s transport sector.
