Following the explosion involving an illegally modified vehicle at a NIPCO CNG Station at Ikpoba Hill in Benin, the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGI) has asked Nigerians to only patronise accredited conversion centres.
P-CNGI’s programme Director/Chief Executive, Michael Oluwagbemi in a press statement also maintained that cylinders for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), does not pose any risk when handled correctly.
Commiserating with the injured victims of the incident, Oluwagbemi said safe handling of all hydrocarbons was critical to their safe use.
He said: “We also call on all stakeholders to cooperate with the new system of regulation and ensure full compliance.
“Only accredited conversion centres must be patronized and safe handling of CNG just like petrol ensures the safety of all.
“This incident reiterates the impetus of the PCNGI and our partners (at SON, NMDPRA, NADDC, and FRSC) on the soon-to-be-launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System to tackle any bad actors in the ecosystem that seeks to make this safer, cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of fueling risky for all.”
While noting that a close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City had shown it was welded and modified and not approved for use for CNG, he added that the “Police, regulatory authorities, and management of NIPCO were undertaking a painstaking investigation of the incident and we are coordinating with them.”
