Stakeholders in the Nigeria automotive industry have called for the full adoption of gas for vehicles agreeing that Autogas has the prospects of turning around the nation’s ailing economy with the potential to contribute a turnover of about N2trn.
This was the position of major stakeholders at the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) conference in Abuja, themed: “LPG- Saving Nigeria from the Brink: Gas for Vehicles, Generators and Agriculture”. They underscored the indispensable role of LPG in Nigeria’s evolving energy scenario, citing a remarkable 2.167 per cent growth in LPG utilisation between 2006 and 2022.
The President of the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Felix Ekundayo, in his welcome address, projected the industry’s continuous growth, particularly with Federal Government’s renewed focus on gas, postulating that the sector has the ability to contribute to a N2trn turnover.
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He identified Autogas as any gas suitable for running vehicles or internal combustion engines, listing four areas where Autogas is critical for usage at the moment. He advised the government to focus on the power, industrial, autogas, and domestic sectors for gas usage.
Highlighting the alleged Nigeria’s paradox in the gas sector, he pointed out the need for robust policies across the gas value chain, stressing the urgency of addressing challenges in the gas industry to harness its full potential for economic and societal benefits.
On his part, the Minister of State (Gas) Petroleum Resources, Ekperipe Ekpo, reiterated government’s commitment to addressing the energy transition gap urgently. He acknowledged NLPGA’s efforts in contributing to the impressive growth in the LPG sector, generating over 150,000 jobs and increasing LPG consumption from 60,000 tonnes in 2007 to over 1.3 million tonnes in 2021.
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In his contribution, Chief Executive of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, emphasised the need for Nigeria to pursue cleaner energy sources, advocating for partnerships and a transition to various fuels, including LNG.
He supported government’s initiatives, such as the National Transportation Mass Transit Policy, requiring all commercial vehicles to run on gas by 2024.
The President of Nigeria Gas Association (NGA), Akachukwu Nwokedi, emphasised autogas as a key contributor to a greener and more decarbonised transportation sector, emphasising the role of gas in achieving “net-zero” by 2060.
