The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria is urging the Federal Government to fund the conversion of petrol stations into Compressed Natural Gas refilling centres.

The association praised the Presidential CNG Initiative as a promising step toward cleaner energy but stressed that large-scale implementation requires significant government investment. This appeal comes as the government reported that more than 100,000 vehicles were converted from petrol to CNG in the past year.

IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, who was represented by an executive member, Mr. Dele Tajudeen, stated that converting petrol stations for Compressed Natural Gas use would demand significant capital, major structural adjustments, and regulatory approvals — all of which are presently unavailable.

“Installing a CNG facility isn’t plug-and-play. It involves structural changes, regulatory compliance, and funding. Without government support, most marketers won’t be able to make the switch,” Maigandi said.

He noted that most existing filling stations were originally built for petrol and diesel, and the lack of dedicated infrastructure for Compressed Natural Gas has resulted in long queues and restricted access for motorists.

“Independent marketers are present in virtually every part of Nigeria, especially where major marketers are not.

“We are well-positioned to drive this transition, but we need financing and technical support from the government,” he pointed out.

The appeal for government support came as Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and Chief Executive of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, revealed a sharp increase in CNG vehicle adoption—rising from under 4,000 to nearly 100,000 in just one year.