As part of efforts to ensure that the autogas conversion of vehicles yielded the desired results, the Federal Government says it has set aside N250 billion for willing investors in autogas assembly plants in the country.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed this yesterday, in Abuja, during an Autogas Technicians Training and Certification Programme.
The programme was organised by the technicians, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, National Gas Expansion Programme, the Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Automotive and Locomotive Engineering Institute, amongst others.
The minister, who was represented by the Senior Technical Adviser on Referendum, Umar Gwandu, said that the money was already in the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), and those interested in opening conversion centres could access it.
Sylva explained that the decision to make the money available was as a result of the huge amount spent by the government on fuel subsidy, adding that it was in line with President Buhari’s commitment to adopt gas as an alternative fuel for the country.
He added that the conversion underscored the seriousness of the new government initiative and urged Nigerians to embrace gas-powered vehicles, as they were cheaper and more environmentally-friendly.
While pledging the support of the ministry to the project, Sylva cautioned autogas technicians to ensure that converted vehicles functioned properly and were well-maintained.
The Chief Executive Officer of Auto Lady Engineering Technology, Joyce Daser-Adams, told newsmen that one of the major challenges in converting a vehicle from fossil fuel to LPG or CNG was the non-availability of parts. According to her, “The parts are not in Nigeria; we need to import them. That is why we are working with foreign partners.
Mrs. Daser-Adams further said that the cost of converting a vehicle was about N200,000, adding that it was very safe and the risk of an explosion in the event of a collision was very minimal.
