…Says no directive to raise pump price…Blames private marketers
By Jeremy Fregene
The Federal Government has distanced itself from the sudden jump in the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), insisting that no directive has been issued to alter pump prices nationwide.
The clarification came on Thursday from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (P-CNGI), following reports that some operators had raised prices from about ₦230 to as high as ₦380 per Standard Cubic Metre (SCM).
In a statement signed by its Brands and Corporate Communications Manager, Matilda Johnson, the P-CNGI described as “misleading and outright false” reports suggesting that the government had either removed subsidies or sanctioned a hike in CNG prices.
“This is incorrect,” the statement read. “For absolute clarity: while pricing matters fall under the purview of the appropriate regulatory agencies, no directive or policy has been issued by the Federal Government to alter CNG pump prices.”
Johnson reiterated the administration’s position that CNG will remain significantly cheaper, cleaner, and more affordable than petrol (PMS) and diesel, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to make alternative fuels widely accessible.
She explained that the mission of P-CNGI is to “catalyse the development of the CNG mobility market and ensure the adoption of a cheaper, cleaner, and more sustainable alternative fuel and diesel nationwide.”
The initiative, she added, has already generated strong private sector interest, attracting close to $1 billion in investment and accelerating the roll-out of new infrastructure across the country.
“Our focus remains on deepening CNG penetration nationwide and encouraging broader private sector participation to ensure availability and affordability for all,” Johnson said.
The Presidency’s clarification comes amid mounting concerns that the sudden surge in pump prices could discourage motorists and businesses from embracing CNG as a viable alternative to petrol, especially at a time when Nigerians are still grappling with the high cost of fuel and diesel.
For now, the government maintains that the adjustment is purely a private-sector decision and not an official policy directive.