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Nigeria Attracts $175m From CNG Initiative
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government claims the presidential Compress Natural Gas initiative has unlocked $175 million in private-sector investments in critical infrastructure in the last year.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation of Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Idris, gave the update in a statement on X on Tuesday as part of milestones achieved as the country marked its 64th Independence Day celebration.
According to him, Nigeria now has 125 conversion centres, up from just seven a year ago.
Mr Idris also said that the biggest advantage is that CNG is much cheaper than petrol and diesel, and will help bring down the cost of transportation and commuting by over 60 per cent.
“One of the biggest issues in the country currently is the cost of transportation and commuting, on account of the removal of petrol subsidy.
“This has led to the launch and rollout of a national program to make Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) the vehicle fuel of choice in Nigeria.
“It is also a cleaner fuel, and better for the environment. For a country as blessed with gas resources as Nigeria, CNG is a smart and welcome bet on the future,” he said.
“In the last year, the presidential CNG initiative has unlocked $175 million in private sector investments in critical infrastructure, and Nigeria now has 125 conversion centres, up from just seven a year ago.”
He spoke to the commencement of petrol refining by the Dangote Refinery, saying that the development had rewritten Nigeria’s story from negative to positive.
“In September, the world’s largest single-train crude oil refinery began producing petrol for the Nigerian market, instantly rewriting the existing narrative of an oil producing country that is forced to depend exclusively on imported petrol.”
He also confirmed that Dangote Refinery would begin to pay for crude supplies in naira starting this month.
“Starting this month, the Dangote Refinery will pay for crude oil supplies in Naira, in a welcome decision approved by President Tinubu to bring down the cost of locally produced petroleum products.
“Also, the new Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative is implementing a zero-per cent VAT regime on a wide range of the sale of gas and gas-related equipment.
“In addition to transport costs, the Federal government is also targeting food and pharmaceuticals, to bring prices down.
“President Tinubu has approved the temporary removal of import duties and taxes on certain essential food items, as well as pharmaceutical raw materials and equipment.
“We acknowledge that it will take some time for the effect of these actions to be felt in the market, and the pockets of Nigerians, and we ask for patience and understanding as the implementation is fine-tuned.
“The results will certainly be felt, in no distant time. Initiatives like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp) are putting money in the pockets of students and workers respectively, enabling people to pursue their dreams of completing education, starting and growing businesses, advancing careers, and affording life’s necessities.
“At the end of the day, this is what matters the most to the people of Nigeria, and it is what we exist for as government: to make life better for all, ensuring no one is left behind.
“There’s something for everyone, and I urge all Nigerians to actively look for which of these many transformational programs and opportunities they can benefit from.
“Government exists to make life better, but this can only happen when the people are aware of opportunities and keen and ready to engage.
“Happy 64th Independence anniversary to the nation and people of Nigeria!”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To boost economic activities in Lagos Island and support residents, the chief executive of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr Bashir Are, sponsored the training of eight persons at the LagRide Drivers Academy through the LagRide Partner Programme.
Mr Are funded both the academy training and the vehicle costs, removing the two barriers that most frequently prevent qualified drivers from entering formal, structured employment in the mobility sector.
The beneficiaries were handed over keys to their vehicles at a ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
They now operate a LagRide vehicle under the platform’s Drive To Own programme, which allows a Captain to earn daily income while working towards full ownership of the vehicle at the end of the agreed payment term.
“The initial capital required to be onboarded was never going to come from these young men, so we provided that intervention financially so that they can have good employment.
“Lagos is a megacity. My agency runs the largest gaming and fintech conference on the continent every year, and when those delegates arrive, we do not want them driven around in poor vehicles. This is also employment for our own people, and we have a great deal of unemployment and underemployment in this country.
“These Captains are from Lagos Island Local Government, and they can now take care of their own families. Let me be clear about one thing. This is not a project. It is a programme, and it continues,” Mr Are stated.
Also speaking, the chairman of LagRide, Ms Diana Chen, said, “Today is just a new beginning, and more and more people will come. More local governments will join us, and one day we want to bring the Governor here so that this programme runs across the state.
“LagRide is a platform where a person comes to take a job and ends up owning the vehicle. It is also a platform that any government, or any organisation with a social development or CSR mandate, can use to empower the people they want to support. The people get their own asset at the end of it.”
On her part, the lawmaker representing Lagos Island Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon, said, “Everyone keeps saying there are not enough jobs for our youths. This is our own way of ensuring that they are empowered.
“When you give a person money, it is money, and it finishes. This is the difference between giving a man a fish and teaching him how to fish. You are giving these young men something they can use to take care of themselves, their families and their homes.
“We must thank the chief executive of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority for doing this, and I must also thank Chief Diana Chen. Lagos Island is a commercial hub, and we intend to keep the flag flying. This is the beginning, and we will be coming back to ask for more.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A bill aimed at prohibiting hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles in Nigeria has been passed by the Senate.
The bill known as the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, imposes fines between N50,000 and N100,000 for violations if assented to by the President.
The piece of legislation was passed by the red chamber of the National Assembly on Thursday and should later be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Members of the upper chamber of the parliament explained that the law was amended to discourage distractions in commercial vehicles and improve the safety of commuters.
In addition, motorists who fail to cooperate with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion are liable to fines or imprisonment or both.
Lawmakers noted that this was to improve compliance with road safety regulations and reduce road crashes, as fines for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs were raised to N100,000 from N5,000, with the risk of spending two years behind bars.
It was also proposed that disobedience to traffic lights, road signs, pavement markings and other traffic control devices will now attract N100,000, while the fine for speed limit violations is now N100,000, with reckless driving now a fine of N100,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
By Dipo Olowookere
Residents and motorists plying the Aina Obembe Road in Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, may soon heave a sigh of relief as the excruciating traffic gridlock being experienced in the area both day and night may soon be a thing of the past.
This is because the chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA, Mr Lukmon Agbaje, has directed those involved in indiscriminate truck parking along the road to remove the heavy-duty vehicles within one week, threatening to invoke appropriate enforcement measures for noncompliance with this directive.
Speaking during a meeting on Wednesday with the management of SENA Company, which owns the affected trucks, as well as the leadership of Oluwadara CDA and other key stakeholders like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), at the council’s secretariat, Mr Agbaje frowned at the prolonged inconvenience suffered by the community, stressing that public roads must remain accessible and safe for all users.
He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in resolving the issue without undermining legitimate business operations, noting that he’s focused on finding a lasting solution to the gridlock experienced between Oluwaga and Aina Obembe, where parked trucks have continued to obstruct traffic, disrupt business activities, and pose safety concerns for residents and motorists.
He tasked the firm and the CDA to jointly identify and implement alternative parking arrangements that would remove all trucks from the affected roads and restore the free flow of traffic.
He declared that, “The welfare of our people remains our highest priority. No individual or corporate organisation should obstruct public infrastructure or create avoidable hardship for residents. We must ensure that economic activities coexist with public safety, order, and convenience.”
The council chief reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting orderly development, ensuring safe and accessible roads, improving traffic management, and creating an environment where businesses can thrive alongside the well-being of residents.
