—Engr. Zayyanu Tambari Yabo
Engr. Zayyanu Tambari Yabo (FNSE) is a chemical engineer and regulatory professional with significant experience in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream oil and gas industry. As Chief Compliance Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV), he plays an important role in advancing compliance, safety, and regulatory standards that support the country’s clean energy transition. In this interview with Emmanuel Peter, Tambari discusses how Nigeria is strengthening gas safety standards amid rapid infrastructure expansion, why effective regulation is essential to attracting investment, the importance of collaboration across the gas value chain, and the critical role safety will play in unlocking the country’s over 210 trillion standard cubic feet of proven gas reserves for sustainable economic development. The interview took place during the recently concluded Nigeria Gas Safety Conference in Abuja, which focused on ‘Enhancing gas safety practices, compliance, and regulations across Nigeria’s expanding domestic gas and LPG value chain’.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Engr. Zayanu Tambari, and I am the Chief Compliance Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV).
How is the government balancing rapid gas infrastructure development with the need to enforce stringent safety standards?
There is absolutely no compromise when it comes to safety.
The Presidential Initiative on CNG and EV is working closely with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders across the value chain to institutionalise a strong culture of safety. One of our major initiatives is the development of the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Ministry of Industry, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other industry partners.
The objective is to establish end-to-end monitoring that guarantees reliability, safety, and public confidence. Through the NGVMS, only vehicles converted at approved conversion centres will be authorised to purchase compressed natural gas from licensed retail outlets.
What new policies or reforms do you expect stakeholders to champion following this conference?
The key takeaway should be collaboration.
There are still too many organisations operating in silos. We need to share experiences, exchange best practices, and even pool resources. For example, some companies have world-class driver training schools that are used exclusively for their own personnel. Opening such facilities to other operators would eliminate unnecessary duplication of investments and enable scarce resources to be directed toward other critical needs.
Ultimately, one of the major outcomes we expect from this conference is stronger collaboration across the industry to address safety from project design and construction through commissioning and operations.
How can regulators strengthen compliance among operators without discouraging investment in the gas sector?
Good regulation actually encourages investment rather than discouraging it.
Investors are more likely to commit capital when they know the sector is properly regulated and that the rules are consistently enforced. Strong regulations provide confidence that investments will be protected, operational risks minimised, and returns secured.
A well-regulated industry is, therefore, a more attractive investment destination.
What role should state and local governments play in ensuring effective gas safety?
State and local governments have very important roles to play.
They need to align with the initiatives of the Federal Government. At PI-CNG & EV, we have been engaging with several state governments, and we continue to work closely with them to ensure that safety standards and implementation strategies are harmonised across the country. Effective collaboration among all levels of government is essential for achieving nationwide gas safety.
How has gas safety evolved from being merely a compliance obligation to becoming a strategic business priority?
Over the last two to three years, Nigeria has witnessed significant progress and increased conversations around gas.
This includes compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The Presidential Initiative is driving the adoption of CNG, while the Decade of Gas programme and other national initiatives continue to promote broader gas utilisation. As the gas sector expands, it becomes increasingly important to create an environment that encourages investment and sustained growth. The only way to achieve this is by ensuring the highest standards of safety.
Even a single major safety incident can undermine public confidence and slow the industry’s progress. That is why safety must remain at the heart of every aspect of the gas value chain.
What are the biggest operational safety challenges companies currently face across Nigeria’s gas value chain?
One of the biggest challenges highlighted during this conference is the transportation of gas across the country. Nigeria’s road infrastructure remains a significant concern. In addition, driver behaviour and attitudes continue to pose safety risks. Even where drivers have received proper training, unsafe practices sometimes compromise the secure transportation of gas products. The behaviour of other road users is equally important. Poor traffic discipline remains a major challenge and affects the safe movement of gas across our highways.
Furthermore, because our pipeline network is not yet operating at optimal capacity, a substantial volume of gas has to be transported by road. This increases operational risks and reinforces the need for improved road safety, better infrastructure, and stricter compliance with transportation standards.
What is your final message to stakeholders?
Gas is emerging not only as Nigeria’s transition fuel but increasingly as the nation’s preferred fuel of choice.
All stakeholders must work together to ensure that the enormous gas resources with which Nigeria has been blessed, estimated at over 210 trillion standard cubic feet of proven reserves, are effectively harnessed for national development.
These resources should not remain underground. We must develop and utilise them to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, expand our Gross Domestic Product, and improve the prosperity of both present and future generations of Nigerians.