The House of Representatives has resolved to urgently propose and enact legislation that will regulate the production, installation and use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanks and systems in vehicles.
This, it said, was to ensure that such processes meet internationally accepted safety standards and prevent the fabrication of substandard CNG tanks by unqualified individuals;
It also mandated its Committee on Gas Resources and the Committee on Industry to investigate the CNG cylinder explosion in Edo State that resulted in the tragic loss of lives and severe injuries to identify the causes and prevent future occurrences.
The Green Chamber further urged the relevant department of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to collaborate on enforcing strict certification standards for the production and installation of CNG tanks and ensure that only qualified and accredited workshops are authorised to carry out CNG vehicle conversions.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Wednesday by Hon. Fuad Laguda.
Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that the Presidential CNG Initiative seeks to promote the use of CNG as a cleaner, more affordable alternative to petrol and diesel in vehicles, thereby reducing dependence on imported fuel, lowering emissions, and making transportation more cost-effective for Nigerians.
Laguda explained that the Presidential CNG initiative is a component of the palliative intervention of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s intervention program to cushion the resultant hardship effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
He added that CNG has proven to be a sustainable and viable alternative fuel for transportation in many countries worldwide, but its safe use hinges on proper manufacturing, installation, and inspection of the CNG tanks and systems used in vehicles.
Laguda stressed that there had been over 2000 conversions of vehicles to CNG across the nation, with zero explosion incidents coming from any of these conversions that were done in verified and certified conversion centers.
He expressed worry that the recent tragic incident in Edo State, where an explosion of a locally fabricated CNG cylinder, in a bid to cut corners, resulted in the loss of lives and property damage, has highlighted the critical need to address the safety and integrity of CNG tanks produced and used in Nigeria.
The lawmaker pointed out that the lack of regulatory standards and legislation governing the local fabrication, installation, and inspection of CNG cylinders was causing a surge in the production of substandard tanks by unqualified artisans, leading to avoidable explosions and loss of lives.
Laguda decried that many CNG conversion workshops and artisans are operating without proper technical certification or oversight, creating unsafe conditions that endanger the lives of vehicle owners and passengers.
He expressed concern that without immediate legislative intervention to regulate the production, testing and certification of CNG tanks and installation processes more Nigerians would continue to face the risk of similar explosions, injuries, and fatalities.
Laguda further lamented that the use of substandard materials, faulty installations and inadequate testing of CNG cylinders before their deployment in vehicles could undermine the success of the Presidential CNG Initiative and lead to widespread public mistrust in CNG technology.
He lamented that the absence of mandatory integrity checks for CNG tanks and the vehicles they are mounted on further compounds the risks associated with the use of compressed natural gas for transportation.
While commending the federal government for its ongoing efforts under the Presidential CNG Initiative, the House emphasised the need to prioritise safety and compliance to maximise the benefits of CNG adoption for Nigerians.
The House resolved: “Urge the House to urgently propose and enact legislation that will regulate the production, installation and use of CNG tanks and systems in vehicles, ensuring that such processes meet internationally accepted safety standards and prevent the fabrication of substandard CNG tanks by unqualified individuals;
“Mandate the House Committee on Gas Resources and the Committee on Industry to investigate the CNG cylinder explosion in Edo State that resulted in the tragic loss of lives and severe injuries to identify the causes and prevent future occurrences”
“Request the Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW) and other relevant agencies to develop training and certification programs for local artisans and workshops involved in CNG tank fabrication and installation to ensure that only certified professionals handle such highly sensitive tasks.”