This comes more than a month after the PCNGi said automobile CNG attracted $491 million (N760.64 billion) in private investments.

In a statement on Monday, Michael Oluwagbemi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of PCNGi, said there are now 255 new conversion centres that did not exist last year, adding that 53 daughter stations exist today as a result of some of those investments.

The CEO said Nigeria is making progress with respect to CNG infrastructure, but engineering feats take time.

He debunked claims of an infrastructure gap in the CNG sector, saying the industry is thriving despite being barely seven months old.

“The PCNGi note the latest alarmist headline on the fate of the thriving CNG sector by the sceptic section of the media, decrying the so-called infrastructure gap in a sector that is barely seven months old in operation nationwide,” Oluwagbemi said.

“We welcome the attention but note the headlines do not do justice to the incredible vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the speed of implementation of the same by the PCNGI.”

Oluwagbemi said in a year, the CNG vehicle count has increased to 100,000 — up from 4,000 — driven by government incentives and growing awareness of economic benefits.

The CEO said private and public partners are developing the necessary infrastructure to meet rising CNG vehicle demand.

“Just last week, two new daughter stations in Abuja were commissioned, with AY Shafa and Femadec investing in these ventures. Both entities have 9 and 21 daughter stations, respectively, in the works in the next one year,” he said.

“For Femadec, the dual benefit of leading the charge of building CNG ecosystem in 20 universities is an icing on the cake. This week, Yola is stepping up with Greenville investing, in its intensive roll out of LCNG stations in 51 locations across the North and SE, as well as hard-to-reach places. Over 175 stations are being rolled out nationwide by various partners.

“In addition to Greenville and Femadec, the PCNGI is backing partners to roll out 24 sites in the next 6–9 months, with one site already activated in Ilorin. Port Harcourt, Ado Ekiti, Lokoja, Abuja, Aba, and Enugu will all go live within the next 60 to 120 days to dispense CNG, to scale the refuelling on-lending initiative heralded with the first launch in Ilorin last year, that have already transformed the local economy.

“Aside from these, NNPCL is investing. Additional 8 stations to its current stock of 12 are being finished as we speak and another 40 of 100 in Phase 2 of her rollout plan is being finalised.

“Bovas is launching two sites in Ibadan any moment from now, as part of its eight-station rollout of ultra-modern CNG stations and ecosystem. NIPCO’s 8 stations in addition to 23 already live across the country will be completed within 6 months.

“Just last week, the Midstream Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, a veritable partner in the process awarded 10 new entries equity investments to develop their various gas projects. Three of them were focused on developing CNG stations. This was in addition to 4 of the 6 initial 123 billion naira investments made last year by MDGIF being directed at the sub-sector.”

Despite “negative narratives”, Oluwagbemi asked sceptics to be patient as the PCNGi works to deliver on its mandate.