Nigeria says 120,000 vehicles now run on gas

Abuja — More than 120,000 vehicles in Nigeria have been converted to run on compressed natural gas under a presidential programme, the information minister, Mohammed Idris, has said, Premium Times reports.

Speaking to editors on Monday, Mr Idris said the initiative, which also covers electric vehicles, has attracted about $2.5 billion in private investment and about ₦250 billion in government funding and commitments.

The network so far

• more than 400 certified conversion centres;
• more than 90 refuelling stations, with another 180 being developed.

The government began promoting gas as a cheaper fuel, especially for commercial transport, after President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023 and transport costs rose.

The catch

Premium Times notes two obstacles. Converting a petrol vehicle can cost between ₦750,000 and ₦2.5 million, depending on the vehicle and engine, which many motorists cannot afford up front. And drivers who have switched have reported too few places to refuel, long queues and lost working hours.

The wider picture the minister painted

Mr Idris used the briefing to argue that the economy has turned a corner. He said:

• inflation has fallen from about 27% in January 2025 to around 15%;
• external reserves passed $54 billion in September, the highest in almost two decades;
• the current account surplus reached $12 billion in the first half of 2026, up from $8.6 billion a year earlier;
• growth is projected at more than 4% this year.

He acknowledged that many households are still under pressure from the cost of living, and said the government's priority is to turn better figures into better lives.

He also said the student loan fund has supported more than 1.6 million students, and that two more cancer treatment centres have been opened, bringing the total to five out of a planned ten.

This report is based on reporting by Premium Times.