By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, ABUJA
ABUJA: Amid rising transport costs and calls for energy alternatives, the House of Representatives has raised concern over the lopsided distribution of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres across Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to expand the scheme to the North-West and North-East regions.
The lawmakers said the exclusion of major northern states from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (Pi-CNG) risks further marginalising regions already grappling with infrastructural deficits and high living costs.
Leading the debate on Thursday, Hon. Sani Aliyu Madaki from Kano decried what he described as an “imbalanced rollout” of the Pi-CNG initiative. According to him, while Lagos alone boasts of 70 CNG centres, states like Kano, Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto which are economically active have none.
“Only Kaduna has been listed from the entire North-West zone. This is not equitable,” Madaki told his colleagues. “We must ensure that this initiative, which has clear benefits in reducing emissions and saving costs, reaches every part of Nigeria.”
The lawmaker argued that the advantages of converting vehicles to CNG go beyond fuel savings. “CNG burns cleaner than petrol, reducing engine wear and emissions. This means lower maintenance costs for motorists and a healthier environment for all,” he added.
The House subsequently passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to establish more CNG conversion centres in all six geopolitical zones, especially in the underserved North-West and North-East. It also mandated an ad-hoc committee to investigate the current implementation of the Pi-CNG initiative.
In addition, the House Committee on Gas Resources has been tasked with ensuring compliance and is expected to report back within four weeks.
The Pi-CNG programme, launched as part of efforts to cushion the impact of petrol subsidy removal, aims to promote the use of gas as a cheaper and cleaner alternative for vehicles. However, lawmakers insist the vision of inclusiveness and national integration will only be realised when all regions have equal access to its benefits.