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IPMAN Tips CNG as Alternative Fuel to Lessen Subsidy Removal Impacts

By Moses Patience Chat

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has supported the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative energy source to cushion the effects of the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy on petrol. 

The National President of IPMAN, Mr Chinedu Okorokwo, made this known during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday. This development came after the Federal Government entered into deliberations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

During the meeting, it was agreed that the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel would bring a better and long lasting solution to the constant fluctuation in the price of petrol in the global market and in Nigeria specifically. The meeting also agreed to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed upon with Labour Centres in 2021 and work out a detailed implementation plan and timing.

CNG is a gas that is mainly composed of methane and produces less emission. It is also the cleanest burning fuel operating today with less vehicle maintenance and longer engine life.

Okoronkwo who had supported the removal of subsidy and usage of CNG said that bringing CNG, which is cheaper than even firewood as an alternative energy, would create relief for the government and its citizens.

According to him, CNG is abundantly available in Nigeria than anywhere in Africa and that in the Niger-Delta region, there are billions of tonnes of gas flare being wasted daily, these are huge amounts that should be accruing to our GDP but we are wasting it because there is no market for it.

“So we are asking the government to create the market. How do you create the market?,” he queried.

Okoronkwo explained that what Egypt and India did was to give soft loans to be paid back within stipulated periods, and from there you can get vehicles to use gas instead of fuel.

He further advised that repairing the local refineries would also help to reduce the impact of fuel subsidy removal as it would eliminate the cost of importation and exportation. The IPMAN President maintained that if the government facilitates the usage of CNG, afforestation will also be stopped and a cleaner environment will be promoted.

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