America supports increased use of compressed natural gas, encourages Nigeria to adopt cleaner power sources

Toks Omishakin, the California Secretary of Transportation, praised efforts to expand Compressed Natural Gas infrastructure in Nigeria, calling it a timely solution to rising fuel costs and global energy challenges, during a visit to a newly established CNG facility in Lagos.

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The facility, owned by Portland Gas Limited, was toured by Omishakin alongside the company's CEO and Founder, Folajimi Mohammed, who emphasized the need for maximum utilization of Nigeria's natural gas reserves to address the country's energy needs.

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Omishakin stressed that Nigeria must continue to explore alternative energy sources to make transportation and energy more affordable for its citizens, given the increasing cost of conventional fuels and ongoing geopolitical tensions worldwide.

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The California transportation chief noted that the project demonstrates the kind of innovation needed to address current economic and environmental realities, and that the search for cleaner and more affordable energy alternatives is imperative.

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Omishakin stated that natural gas is significantly cleaner than conventional diesel fuel, with CNG operations offering environmental advantages, and that natural gas is between 70 and 80 per cent cleaner than diesel, while also addressing concerns over safety.

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He argued that misconceptions surrounding the safety of natural gas-powered vehicles should be corrected, stressing that the technology remains a safe and reliable option for transportation, and that California, which adopted natural gas-powered transportation about two decades ago, has since advanced into electric vehicle and hydrogen technologies.

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Omishakin disclosed that Nigeria could benefit from knowledge-sharing partnerships in the electric mobility sector as it gradually expands its clean energy infrastructure, and that California has significant expertise in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which it looks forward to sharing with Nigeria.

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He urged Nigerian authorities to sustain efforts aimed at making energy more affordable, citing the need to diversify energy sources for homes and transportation, and acknowledged recent investments in the country's energy sector, including the Dangote Refinery.

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Omishakin commended Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu for supporting initiatives aimed at improving transportation and energy access, and emphasized the need for Nigeria to continue embracing different sources of energy to power homes and vehicles.

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Folajimi Mohammed, the Portland CEO, said the visit provided an opportunity for valuable exchanges on energy transition, electric vehicle technology, and sustainable transportation solutions, and noted that Nigeria is at a stage where it must fully harness its vast natural gas reserves.

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Mohammed explained that natural gas would continue to play a critical role in powering future electric vehicle infrastructure, noting that electricity generation for EV charging stations would still require reliable energy sources, and that the facility has recorded encouraging patronage since commencing operations about two weeks ago.

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The station currently dispenses an average of one skid, equivalent to about 6,000 standard cubic metres of gas daily, serving roughly 400 vehicles per day, according to Mohamed, who added that extensive safety measures had been implemented at the facility.

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Mohammed acknowledged the support of the Federal Government and the Mainstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, which provided equity financing that contributed to the establishment of the facility, and expressed optimism that successful completion of the current project would pave the way for further investments and expansion of CNG stations across the country.

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The visit underscored growing interest in cleaner transportation alternatives as Nigeria seeks to leverage its abundant natural gas resources to reduce transportation costs, improve energy security, and support the transition toward a more sustainable energy future.