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By Tracy Moses
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has acquired 500 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks to strengthen petroleum product distribution across the country as the Federal Government steps up efforts to promote natural gas as an alternative fuel.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, disclosed this on Monday at the National Assembly in Abuja while outlining measures to improve energy security, stabilise petroleum supply and ease cost pressures on consumers.
Ugochinyere also said more than 120,000 vehicles were now operating on CNG in Nigeria, describing the figure as an indication of growing adoption of gas-powered transportation.
He added that NNPC Ltd. had delivered 35 CNG-hybrid buses to the Presidential CNG Initiative as part of efforts to promote cleaner transportation and reduce the cost of moving people and goods.
The 500 trucks are expected to facilitate the transportation of petroleum products from supply points to distribution networks, potentially reducing reliance on diesel-powered vehicles and lowering distribution costs.
However, the extent to which the initiative will reduce operating expenses will depend on the availability of refuelling infrastructure, reliable gas supplies and the cost of maintaining CNG-powered vehicles.
Ugochinyere said the expansion of CNG infrastructure was part of a broader nine-pillar roadmap designed to strengthen the downstream petroleum sector and protect the country against supply disruptions.
He disclosed that NNPC Retail had commissioned its first solar-powered smart energy station in Abuja in September. The station offers petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), CNG and electric vehicle charging services.
According to him, between 50 and 70 similar stations are expected to be established within six months.
The planned expansion is part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s transportation energy sources and reduce exposure to fluctuations in global oil prices, which affect domestic fuel costs and business operations.
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector continues to grapple with distribution costs, infrastructure constraints and the challenge of ensuring adequate supplies across the country. The adoption of CNG is expected to provide motorists and commercial transport operators with an alternative to conventional fuels, although wider uptake will require accessible refuelling stations, affordable vehicle conversions and reliable gas distribution.
Beyond the expansion of CNG infrastructure, Ugochinyere said the committee was working with relevant institutions to strengthen domestic refining, improve crude oil supply to local refineries, establish strategic petroleum reserves and enhance pipeline security.
He emphasised the importance of protecting the infrastructure used to transport petroleum products, declaring that “there is no supply security without pipeline security.”
The committee is also pursuing measures to improve the reliability of domestic refineries and reduce Nigeria’s exposure to disruptions in international markets.
Ugochinyere disclosed that technical partners had assessed the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, with the aim of restoring reliable and commercially viable operations.
He further said crude supply to local refineries under the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation reached 97.4 per cent of allocated volumes in the second quarter of 2026. Domestic crude, he added, accounted for more than 80 per cent of the crude received by Nigerian refineries between January and September.
The lawmaker also reported that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.56 million barrels per day in June 2026, the highest level in 74 months.
The Federal Government’s wider gas expansion programme is intended to reduce transportation costs, improve energy access and encourage investment in alternative-fuel infrastructure.
However, the success of the programme will depend on whether the growth in CNG-powered vehicles is matched by adequate refuelling facilities, dependable gas supplies, affordable conversion services and consistent maintenance support.
For the downstream sector, the deployment of the 500 trucks represents part of a broader effort to strengthen petroleum distribution and diversify Nigeria’s energy mix. Its impact will ultimately be measured by improvements in product delivery, distribution efficiency and operating costs for businesses and transport operators.