He also touched on recent developments in local content enforcement, revealing that PENGASSAN had signed an agreement with Sterling Oil Company aimed at limiting expatriate dominance and ensuring Nigerian workers are trained to take over jobs.
On the occasion of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Osifo reminded the Federal Government that the true spirit of June 12 lies in delivering good governance and improving citizens’ welfare.
“ThisDay” newspaper of June 3, 2025. Front page Headline: “FG: DESPITE CRITICISM, CNG INITIATIVE HAS ATTRACTED $500M, CREATED OVER 10,000 JOBS”
(from Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja)
“Despite initial takeoff challenges, the coordinating office of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) said it attracted $500 million in investment and created 10,000 jobs nationwide in less than one year.
Besides, the secretariat noted that at least 255 new conversion centres had been established, while 53 daughter stations for refilling had been inaugurated.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Programme Director and Chief Executive of the PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, noted that in spite of the criticisms that have trailed the initiative, close to 100,000 vehicles have been converted, from a mere 4,000 hitherto.
One major issue with the programme has been the reported inadequate infrastructure, as there are too few Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations and conversion centres across the country compared to the demand by motorists, particularly outside major urban areas.
Describing a key newspaper report on the alleged gaps in the programme as ‘alarmist’, being barely seven months old in operation nationwide, Oluwagbemi stated that before the current push, there were hardly any CNG vehicles on the roads and no demand at the few 11 CNG stations nationwide since a 2017 pilot by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
“This is a result of massive incentives provided by the administration and the breakthrough in awareness due to the economic benefits of the switch. Nigerians love CNG, and the programme is working.”
“One year out, we are pleased that even the doubting Thomases are singing a new tune. With over 50,000 vehicles and rising to 100,000, the queues at CNG stations are naturally going to rise because of such an unprecedented increase (from a mere 4,000) in vehicle count.
This is a result of massive incentives provided by the administration and the breakthrough in awareness due to the economic benefits of the switch. Nigerians love CNG, and the programme is working.
Indeed, the private sector, as well as public partners that will develop the necessary infrastructure to meet the rising demand of CNG vehicles, are taking note. Just last week, two new daughter stations in Abuja were commissioned, with AY Shafa and Femadec investing in these ventures,” Oluwagbemi added.
According to him, over 175 stations are being rolled out nationwide by various partners, explaining that just last week, the Midstream Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) awarded 10 new equity investments to develop their various gas projects.
“Three of them were focused on developing CNG stations. This was in addition to four of the six initial N123 billion investments made last year by MDGIF being directed at the sub-sector. In one year, the CNG sector has attracted over $500 million in investments and created over 10,000 direct jobs. 255 new conversion centres that didn’t exist last year and 53 daughter stations exist today as a result of some of those investments.
“Nigeria is making progress with respect to CNG infrastructure, but engineering feats take time. It took over 70 years to get addicted to petrol and diesel. It will take more than seven months to be weaned off the addiction,” Oluwagbemi added.
“Guardian” newspaper of June 2, 2025.
Front page headline: “ECOWAS ENDORSES DANGOTE REFINERY AS PETROLEUM SUPPLY BACKBONE”
(By Waliat Musa)
“President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a transformational project with the capacity to meet the petroleum needs of Nigeria and the entire West African region.
Touray, who led a high-powered ECOWAS delegation on a working visit to the 650,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) facility in the Lekki Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Lagos, lauded the refinery as a “beacon of hope for Africa’s future” and a demonstration of what the private sector could achieve in driving regional industrialisation.
Moved by the scale and sophistication of the facility, the ECOWAS Commission President said, “What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope, and everybody who doesn’t believe in Africa should come here. Visiting here will give you more hope because this is exactly what our continent should focus on.
We have seen something I couldn’t have imagined, and really, the capacity in all areas is impressive. We congratulate Dangote for this trust in Africa because I think you do this only when you have the trust, and he has a vision for Africa, and this is what we should all work to encourage.”
According to Touray, the refinery, which produces Euro V standard fuels, is critical to helping the sub-region meet its 50 ppm sulphur limit for petroleum products, a standard many imported fuels fall short of.
