IN the light of the campaign by the Nigerian government to see petrol-run vehicles converted to compressed natural gas, vehicle engineers have cautioned against such move, warning that such conversions could damage the vehicles.

Due to the high cost of petrol across Nigeria, the Nigerian government began a campaign in 2024, asking vehicle owners to convert petrol-powered vehicles to CNG to cut costs.

President Bola Tinubu made CNG available in September 2024 at just N230 per litre, which was releatively cheaper than petrol, which cost over N900 per litre at that time. Petrol costs N865/N875 per litre today. President Tinubu set up the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), headed by Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, who is making efforts to push this policy across Nigeria.

Mr Tinubu ordered the distribution of 1 million free conversion kits for commercial vehicles across the country, along with free installation, over an 18-month period.The first phase of the PCNGi began with the distribution of 10,000 free conversion kits. The kits were chanelled through transport associations such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Moove, UBER, and the Kaduna State Transport Authority (KSTA). There have been other phases targeted at distributing conversion kits across Nigeria.

Engineers express worry

However, engineers are worried about the type of information released to the general public regarding the conversions, saying that the campiagn could damage vehicles beyond repair.

READ ALSO: $1bn Ogoni clean-up project: Truths, half-truths and outright lies

“Energy experts in the presidency know that the information is misleading,” said a mechanical engineer, who works in an auto assembly plant in Lagos.

“The engines of those vehicles you are trying to convert were not originally designed for CNG combustion. So, your engine can knock or overheat. Secondly, key parts of the vehicle can damage. Parts like pistons and valves can damage beyond repair,” the source, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak, noted.

An automotive engineer, Mr Kehinde Ajibola, noted that such misinformation was dangerous as it could be costly to vehicle owners. “This can be penny wise, pound foolish. In the course of wanting to use a cheap energy source, you can damage your engine. The cylinder heads and valves can damage.

“CNG has a lower energy density than petrol. What this means is that the conversion could reduce the energy performance of a vehicle. The acceleration capacity of a vehicle can reduce with such conversions. Also, if you are using CNG, your vehicle would need regular maintenance, especially for critical parts like plugs and filters. This means more costs. Also, if not properly installed, there could be leakages or even explosions. This is a fact, and not politics.”

Economy Post found that vehicle marketers or manufacturers have refused to cover or offer warranties for CNG-converted vehicles. Engineers said it was as a result of the risks associated with such conversions. They said efforts should be made to promote factory-built CNG vehicles, which were more economical and safe, than the conversion of petrol-run vehicles to CNG.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals recently took delivery of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, which, according to the company, was “an integral part of its fuel distribution logistics programme.” It began on August 15, 2025. “The initiative aims to transform the fuel distribution landscape within Nigeria by reducing logistics costs and enhancing supply efficiency for customers,” the company said on its website.

The Nigerian government has seized the moment to promote CNG vehicles before vehicle owners, but engineers said they knew more than what the government was saying.

READ ALSO: Dangote’s petrol remains expensive as oil-producing African nations sell cheaper PMS

“Even the Dangote’s CNG trucks that the government keeps talking about were factory-built CNG vehicles. Dangote did not convert its petrol-powered trucks to CNG because their engineers must have warned them. They know that poorly converted vehicles will have breakdowns on the roads, which means more costs. They know that we do not have many trained technicians on CNG conversion, which makes the situation dire,” said another vehicle engineer, Dr Emeka Ejiogu.

Ejiogu, who is a university lecturer, urged the government to tread with caution to prevent avoidable mishaps.