Malaysia’s decision to phase out natural gas vehicles by July 2025 has sparked concerns among Nigerians, given Nigeria’s push to promote Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a petrol alternative. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke cited safety concerns due to aging CNG tanks nearing the end of their 15-year lifespan.
In contrast, President Bola Tinubu’s administration promotes CNG vehicles as safer and cost-effective, with over 100,000 vehicles converted to CNG or bi-fuel configurations ¹. However, Nigerians express concerns following recent explosions involving converted vehicles. Many criticize the government’s promotion of CNG, citing Malaysia’s phase-out decision.
Some Nigerians took to social media, questioning CNG safety. Ini Ekott tweeted, “Nigerian rulers promote CNG as safe, while Malaysia provides clear provisions for citizens during transition.” Others, like #Otunbakush1, labeled Nigeria’s CNG push a “Death Race”.
President Tinubu advocates for CNG adoption, offering incentives for commercial motorists to convert from petrol to gas, priced at N200 per Standard Cubic Meter, significantly cheaper than petrol’s N1,000 per liter.
