Motorists queue for CNG amid high transport fares

Motorists who have converted their vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) are facing lengthy waiting times at stations to refuel, The PUNCH reports. This issue has hindered the Federal Government's attempts to provide affordable fuel alternatives since the petrol subsidy was removed. With petrol prices hovering between N1,350 and N1,400 per litre, many motorists, especially commercial drivers, have opted for CNG to lower their operational expenses.

However, the long queues at CNG stations are causing frustration among drivers, who worry that the delays could resemble the past petrol queues they endured. At NIPCO CNG station in Ibafo, Ogun State, motorists reportedly wait overnight to purchase CNG, and queues frequently extend onto the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, blocking traffic towards Mowe.

Some passengers have even stopped using CNG buses due to the excessive time spent refuelling. The problem is not limited to Lagos; similar queues are observed at CNG stations in Ogun, Benin, Abuja, and other states. Despite the government's efforts to promote CNG conversion through initiatives like the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, the inadequate number of CNG stations across the country remains a significant obstacle.