The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has addressed the issue of long queues at the CNG conversion center on Airport Road, Abuja.
This center, managed by NIPCO filling stations in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) and EPP Gas, has seen a surge in demand recently.
There have been complaints of a shortage of gas at the station, with vehicles forming a very long, unattended queue.
The minister, while addressing the press on the issue, assured that the government is equal to the task, adding that his ministry would address the problem in no time.
“It came to my knowledge yesterday that we’re having a long queue along Airport Road at NIPCO. That project is privately driven by the NNPC. So, I’ve written a letter to EPP Gas to come and explain why we’re having a long queue,” he said.
“When I was commissioning the CNG at those stations, there were supposed to be 12, which means they should be functional. So I can assure you that after today’s meeting with NNPC and EPP Gas, we’ll be able to address it.
“There’s availability of gas. It may be the lack of infrastructure, as we mentioned. We have to try as much as possible to provide the infrastructure for the delivery of gas. What we produce in our country is more than enough.”
He added, “The President has given a charge on CNG. We’re well aware that the President set up a presidential committee on CNG to drive the CNG project. As a Minister, we’ve been supervising what has been going on there.
“It’s left for us to inform the general public that CNG has come to stay. We have to take that route because CNG is cheaper and protects the environment. The President has talked about converting most of the filling stations across the country to CNG stations.
“It is important to know that when you’re using CNG, you save a lot of money.”
