In a bid to rejuvenate the economy and provide alternatives to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), President Bola Tinubu’s administration has achieved another milestone with the certification of 45 automotive mechanics in Ekiti State.
These mechanics have been trained to convert petrol vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The training programme, driven by the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Ekiti State Government, and Lanre Shittu Motors, took place at the NADDC Centre along Ilawe Road, Ado Ekiti.
The Director General of the NADDC, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, encouraged the trainees to apply the skills they had learned to achieve the goals of the initiative.
He also urged them not to sell the tools provided to them and to pass on their knowledge to other automotive professionals in Ekiti State.
Mr. Osanipin emphasized the benefits of CNG, describing it as cost-effective, safe, environmentally friendly, and a practical alternative to expensive petrol and diesel, noting that free CNG conversion kits, courtesy of Lanre Shittu Motors and PCNGi, were distributed to the participants.
“We can’t overemphasize the benefits of CNG. Ekiti is ready, and we are going to continue the training by going around the country. Those who have undergone this training in Ekiti should not hoard their knowledge about CNG. They should endeavor to teach their colleagues and open their conversion centers.”
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, while congratulating the trainees on completing the programme, described the initiative as very important, emphasizing the need for people to actively engage in it.
He said the Federal Government-owned conversion center is the first in the state and pledged that more CNG conversion and refilling centers would be established by the state government through public-private partnerships.
Represented by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Bolaji Aluko, the governor highlighted that the initiative would enhance mobility and promote a safer environment.
He added that the government would provide further training workshops to ensure high standards and improve efficiency in service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of Lanre Shittu Motors, Workshop Manager Engr. Jamiu Akani addressed concerns from vehicle owners regarding the safety of CNG, reassuring them that it is much safer than Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which is commonly used for cooking.
He explained that CNG-equipped vehicles can automatically switch between petrol and CNG while in motion, though only vehicles with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), commonly referred to as a “brain box,” are eligible for conversion.
He noted that the trainees had been thoroughly educated on the pros and cons of the conversion process, both in theory and practice.
“On the first day, we took them through the theoretical aspects of the training before moving on to the practical aspects. We were given three vehicles, including two Prado Jeeps and a car, and we successfully converted them. We also taught them about safety precautions concerning the conversion materials and how to handle the conversion procedure.” Engr. Akani said.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) in Ekiti State, Mr. Olusoji Olusegun John, expressed gratitude to Governor Oyebanji and the federal government for the initiative.
He called on the governor to provide additional tools to the trainees, ensuring that they can further transfer their expertise to others across the state.
