Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Ayuba Wabba, has called on the Federal Government to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) dispensing stations in all 774 local government areas across the country.
Wabba said a nationwide CNG network would make the alternative fuel more accessible and help Nigerians cope with the rising cost of petrol.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday, the former labour leader said although more Nigerians were beginning to embrace CNG-powered vehicles, inadequate refuelling infrastructure remained a major obstacle to widespread adoption.
He stressed that motorists travelling between distant locations needed reliable access to CNG along major routes to avoid being stranded when their fuel ran out.
“If people are transporting goods or services from one part of the country to another and the CNG finishes, where will they refill it?” Wabba asked.
He argued that CNG stations should be available across the 774 local government areas, allowing motorists travelling between cities such as Lagos, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt to refuel conveniently.
Wabba, who disclosed that he personally uses a CNG-powered vehicle, said the current infrastructure gap could make long-distance journeys particularly difficult.
He illustrated the challenge by noting that even with a 100kg CNG tank, he could run out of fuel before reaching Jos when travelling from Lagos to Maiduguri.
“I have a CNG vehicle. If I’m travelling from here to Maiduguri now, in fact, I will be stranded on the road because if I fill 100kg, it will not take me to Jos,” he said.
The former NLC president maintained that expanding the CNG network would give motorists greater confidence to switch from petrol and make the alternative fuel more practical for everyday use.
His call comes amid another increase in petrol prices after Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price by ₦85 per litre on September 10, moving it from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350.
Wabba expressed concern over the repeated increases in petroleum prices, warning that continued fluctuations were placing additional pressure on households and businesses.
He described energy security as a critical component of national economic stability and urged the government to respond quickly to the rising cost of fuel.
According to him, higher petrol and diesel prices are major contributors to the growing poverty levels in the country because businesses rely heavily on energy to operate, while transportation costs affect the movement of people, goods and services.
“Energy security is very strategic in every country. Therefore, government needs to come up with a very quick response,” he said.
Wabba warned that another round of petrol price increases would deepen the financial hardship facing Nigerians and increase the operating expenses of businesses.
He said many households were already struggling to afford basic meals, with some families reducing their daily food intake because of economic pressures.
The former labour leader therefore called for a comprehensive approach to addressing the country’s energy challenges, including greater attention to domestic refining.
He urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to ensure that Dangote Refinery has adequate access to crude oil.
According to Wabba, supplying sufficient crude to the refinery could help eliminate some of the additional costs embedded in the petroleum supply chain and potentially ease pressure on fuel prices.
“The only refinery now is Dangote, so government and NNPC must find a way of giving him crude oil,” he said.
Wabba maintained that strengthening domestic refining and expanding alternative-fuel infrastructure would be critical to reducing Nigeria’s exposure to volatile petroleum prices and protecting households and businesses from further economic hardship. (NAN)
COURTESY: dailytimesng.com
