Following plans by Malaysia to phase out CNG-powered vehicles by 2025, the Presidency has allayed apprehensions regarding the safety of Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles, introduced in Nigeria as an alternative to petrol-powered cars.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed these fears in a post on his X handle on Thursday while responding to reports to that effect.
Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, announced at a press conference that the NGV tanks have a safe usage lifespan of approximately 15 years, and if they are not replaced, they become unsafe to use and may fail at any time.
Onanuga however clarified that Malaysia’s policy was focused on the safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), not CNG.
He added that Nigeria chose CNG specifically for its safety and cost-effectiveness, with plans underway to develop domestic tank manufacturing capacity.
Onanuga added that Malaysia faced difficulties in replacing 15-year-old tanks due to limited manufacturing capacity, while Nigeria, in its first year of adopting CNG, is already addressing this.