Thinking of converting your car to CNG? What the switch involves

Since petrol prices climbed after the subsidy ended, more drivers in Nigeria have been asking about compressed natural gas. Taxi and bus operators were among the first to switch. Here is what you need to know before you join them.

What CNG is

CNG is ordinary natural gas, the same gas Nigeria has in huge reserves, compressed into a strong tank at high pressure. A vehicle with the right equipment can burn it in its engine instead of petrol or diesel.

Most cars are converted rather than bought new. A workshop fits a conversion kit: a gas tank, usually in the boot, plus valves, a regulator and a switch. Converted cars can generally still run on petrol, so you can switch fuels if you cannot find a CNG station.

Why the government is pushing it

In August 2023, President Tinubu approved the Presidential CNG Initiative, a response to the end of the petrol subsidy. Its aim is to get more vehicles running on gas by supporting conversion kits, workshops, CNG buses and refuelling stations.

The case for it is simple. Nigeria produces gas at home, so CNG depends less on imported fuel and the exchange rate than petrol does.

What it costs at the pump

CNG is sold by the standard cubic metre (scm), not by the litre. A marketers' bulletin in late October 2026 put CNG prices between ₦380 and ₦500 per scm, depending on the station. For comparison, petrol at major Abuja stations was ₦1,405 a litre in mid-October.

An scm and a litre are different units, so the two prices cannot be compared directly. How far each takes you depends on your vehicle and kit. Ask the workshop, or drivers with the same model, how many kilometres they get per scm.

Questions to ask before converting

1. Where will you refuel? Count the CNG stations on your daily routes. Without one nearby, savings disappear.
2. Who is fitting the kit? Use a certified workshop. The tank holds gas at very high pressure, so installation quality is a safety issue.
3. What does conversion cost, and is there support? Prices vary, and some schemes have offered discounts or payment plans. Get quotes in writing.
4. How much boot space will you lose? The tank is bulky.
5. What about servicing? Ask how often the kit needs checking and what that costs.

The short version

CNG can cut fuel costs for drivers who cover long distances and live near stations. It works best for taxis, buses and delivery fleets. For an occasional driver far from a station, the savings may take a long time to cover the cost of converting.