By Olasunkanmi Onifade
A technician, Julius Yaama, has urged Nigerians not to be scared of converting their vehicles to of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines saying its advantages far outweigh disadvantages.
Yaama, who specialised in CNG conversion, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that CNG vehicles were both safe and cost-effective.
CNG conversion involves installing a system in a vehicle that allows it to run on CNG instead of the factory-fitted petrol or diesel engine.
Yaama said the aim of converting cars to CNG is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy independence, and support the wider adoption of CNG vehicles.
He said CNG could be less strenuous on engines, potentially leading to a longer engine lifespan.
“Government is making all efforts to ensure the availability of gas and it is available in many NNPC stations.
“Government is collaborating with the National Union of Road Workers to subsidise the conversion rate for them,” he said.
Yaama, however, cautioned that not all engines were suitable for CNG conversion, adding that high-performance or turbocharged engines might not be compatible with the technology.
He said that vehicles under 10 years old, with modern systems, were generally the best for CNG conversion.
“Petrol cars can be fully converted to run on CNG through the addition of key components such as a storage cylinder, pressure regulator, CNG tank, and a heating system.
“Diesel engines can only switch partially, operating on a blend of diesel and CNG,” Yaama said.
He said the cost of CNG conversion varies depending on the vehicle and the complexity of the process.
“For private car owners, there is also a percentage that the government is paying to subsidise. The total package for conversion as of last year was 1.2 million naira.
“Due to the subsidy that the federal government has introduced, it is now available for private cars for less than 750,000 to 700,000 naira, depending on the vehicle,” Yaama said.
A civil servant, Mrs Favour Ogunlade, said there was still low awareness about the safety of CNG cars among motorists.
“As a civil servant, I still prefer to buy fuel until I have more information about the safety of converting a car to CNG or using a CNG vehicle.
“I don’t think I’m ready to convert my car to CNG just yet.
“There is a need for more awareness. People need to be educated; the relevant agencies should actively communicate the safety aspects of converting cars to CNG,” she said.
Mr Basil Eze another, civil servant, said he was yet to fully understand CNG conversion and its implications for his vehicle.
He said the high cost of the cost of conversion posed a major challenge to the conversion rate given the economic realities in the country.
However, Mr Joseph Emmanuel, who has already converted his vehicle, described it as economical, stating that he now spends less to power the engine.
