Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has said the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) policy of the federal government “remains a key component to the nation’s energy transition agenda.”
He said this Thursday evening at an investigative hearing organised by the Ad-hoc Committee of the House on the Implementation of the CNG Policy in Abuja.
“It represents a strategic shift towards cleaner, safer, and more economically viable alternatives to conventional fossil fuels, especially in our transportation sector.
“Our concern is not just about the intentions of the policy, but the mechanisms of its execution – are the funds appropriated being judiciously utilised? Are Nigerians feeling the impact? Are safety and environmental standards being upheld? Are stakeholders adequately carried along?
“This hearing is, therefore, a platform to hear directly from the relevant MDAs, operators, industry experts, and the Nigerian people themselves. It is also an opportunity for accountability and for constructive dialogue on how to ensure the successful rollout of the CNG policy in the interest of national development,” he said.
The Chairman of the Committee, Jaha Ahmadu Usman, in his remarks earlier, raised questions about the accessibility, sustainability, and equity of Nigeria’s CNG rollout, warning that the policy risks failure without urgent transparency and stronger oversight.
According to him, the policy is bold in ambition, but beset by troubling realities that must be confronted, if it is to serve Nigerians effectively.
He said more than a year after its launch, major concerns remain unresolved, noting, “While the policy was envisioned as transformative, especially for low-income earners and commercial drivers, its implementation has raised serious questions about safety, access, affordability, and public awareness.”