Beyond the Directive: A Legislative Framework for Nigeria’s 100,000-Kit CNG Transition

Abstract

In March 2026, the Federal Government of Nigeria issued a presidential directive mandating the immediate nationwide deployment of 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits under the Presidential Initiative on CNG (Pi-CNG). This policy aims to reduce transport costs, cushion the effects of rising petrol prices, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy. While the directive demonstrates strong executive commitment, there remains a significant gap between policy ambition and implementation reality. Key challenges include inadequate refueling infrastructure, high conversion costs, weak regulatory backing, and uneven nationwide access. This policy brief argues that executive directives alone are insufficient to sustain Nigeria’s CNG transition. A comprehensive legislative framework is required to institutionalize incentives, regulate standards, ensure equitable access, and guarantee long-term sustainability. Addressing the gap in the Presidential directive and the development of a comprehensive legislative framework to support and sustain Nigeria’s CNG transition beyond the current presidential directive, the brief hereby recommends as follows: i. Enactment of a National CNG Transition Act to provide legal basis for CNG adoption. The National Assembly may also define national targets (short, medium, long-term), and mandate annual reporting and compliance. ii. Legislate minimum state-by-state infrastructure coverage and mandate private sector participation through PPPs.