The National Assembly Friday tasked the Federal Government to carry out thorough adaptability tests or research on Compressed Natural Gas ( CNG ) as alternative means of powering vehicular movements in Nigeria .
This is even as it frowned at avoidable explosions of some of the vehicles already converted from petrol powered automobiles to CNG powered ones .
It also decried the N903million earmarked for capital projects execution by the Ministry of Petroleum in 2025 fiscal year .
These were fallouts from 2025 budget defence session the National Assembly joint committee on Petroleum ( Downstream) , Petroleum ( Upstream ) and Gas , had with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources , represented by the two Ministers of State in the Ministry .
First to ask questions on the CNG conversion and incidences of vehicles explosion that happened in some parts of the country in recent time , was Hon Kafilat Ogbara who sought for explanations from the Minister of State for Gas , Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo on way out of the ugly incidences .
Senator Natasha Akpoti ( PDP Kogi Central) , fired a followed up question by asking the Minister , whether adaptability test or research was conducted before the idea of CNG was brought into the country for implementation .
” There is danger in adapting any form of technology without proper research or test on its adaptability .
” The vehicles being converted into CNG powered automobiles in Nigeria are originally built for Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS) aside bumpy or bad roads here, as against very smooth roads in countries where CNG technology is imported from .
” Also , was the factor of hot climate in Nigeria considered before importation of the idea of CNG ?”, she asked .
But in his response , the Minister of State for Gas said there is a Presidential Committee on CNG , that had carried out the adaptability test or research before operationalization of CNG initiative in Nigeria .
He declared that based on investigations conducted by his Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Committee , all the CNG converted vehicles that had exploded , were not converted from certified centres .
” CNG has come to stay in Nigeria, those vehicles that exploded , were not converted at the certified centres but by road side technicians “, he said .
On the N903million capital vote for the Ministry in 2025, the Minister of State for Petroleum , Senator Henikien Lokpobiri informed the Senator Agom Jarigbe led committee that the projection is small because the ministry dwells more on policy formulation and not contracts execution .