OPEYEMI OLOTU
Nigeria’s push toward energy independence has taken a decisive leap forward as the Federal Government, through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), concluded talks with Chinese industrial giant, Endurance Group, to roll out 500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations nationwide within three years — a move expected to transform transportation, cut fuel costs, and sharply reduce the long queues currently plaguing Nigeria’s few CNG stations.
After a high-level meeting, MDGIF Executive Director, Mr. Oluwole Adama, revealed that the project will birth a new government-backed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — Compressed Auto Mobility Infrastructure Company (CAM InfraCo) — jointly promoted by MDGIF, the Bank of Industry (BOI), Endurance Group, and Séquor Investment Partners.
But beyond infrastructure, officials say the real win is energy security.
“This collaboration signals a major shift in Nigeria’s energy landscape,” Adama explained. “The 500 integrated stations, LCNG supply systems and nationwide virtual pipeline will close critical infrastructure gaps and make CNG affordable and accessible across all states.”
The initiative promises a reliable supply backbone — including CNG/LNG transport trucks and a gas logistics network — that will eliminate scarcity-driven bottlenecks and support commercial fleets and private motorists alike.
Speaking on the broader national vision, Mr. Oluwatoyin Subair, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs, said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to break Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on petrol and diesel.
“The President’s energy security roadmap hinges on cleaner, cheaper alternatives. Mass adoption of auto-CNG is central to reducing PMS consumption, stabilising transport costs and supporting ongoing economic reforms,” Subair noted.
For Endurance Group, the project is not merely a construction effort but the creation of a complete ecosystem. CEO Eric Lin said CAM InfraCo will operate a leasing and logistics model that puts CNG equipment in the hands of certified operators while guaranteeing gas supply through a world-class virtual pipeline covering underserved northern routes and fast-growing southern hubs.
Once operational, the network is expected to deliver a resilient, commercially viable CNG backbone—one capable of supporting mass transit systems, private motorists, logistics companies and industrial users across Nigeria.
In essence, Nigeria’s CNG transition is no longer a plan. It is now a pipeline — and soon, a nationwide reality.d End Fuel-Queue Pain
