FIC REPORT (BENUE STATE) – The Benue State Government has commenced a three-day awareness workshop on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), aimed at reducing transportation and energy costs, building technical capacity and creating new economic opportunities across the state.
The workshop, themed “Presidential CNG Initiative: The Game Changer,” commenced on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia Conference Hall of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Makurdi.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was represented at the opening ceremony by his Deputy, Barr. Sam Ode, said the state government was determined to move beyond merely observing the Federal Government’s CNG policy to translating the initiative into practical benefits for residents.
The Governor said the initiative had become particularly important in view of the high cost of transportation, business operations, agricultural production and energy, noting that CNG could provide an alternative fuel source for vehicles, generators and other suitable applications.
He explained that the state government was working towards developing the infrastructure and technical skills required for the adoption of CNG, including public awareness, technical and competency training, vehicle conversion, deployment of mobile refuelling units and daughter stations, as well as expanding CNG services beyond Makurdi to other parts of the state.
“CNG is not something that should be approached with fear or misinformation,” the Governor said, stressing the importance of proper awareness, the use of approved equipment, competent technical personnel and responsible operation.
According to him, the workshop was designed to educate participants on the production, transportation, storage and dispensing of CNG, as well as its application in vehicles and generators, safety requirements and emerging opportunities for mechanics, technicians, youths, businesses, investors and entrepreneurs.
Governor Alia also linked the initiative to Benue’s agricultural economy, saying affordable and reliable energy could support agricultural production, processing, storage and transportation across the state.
He therefore urged participants to take advantage of the training to acquire relevant skills and position themselves for opportunities in the emerging CNG value chain.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Power, Renewable Energy and Transport, Hon. Joseph Ter Jir, said the state government considered CNG a potential tool for reducing transportation and business costs.
Jir said the Benue CNG Project would focus on public awareness, technical and vocational training, vehicle conversion, access to conversion kits, deployment of CNG-powered buses and tricycles, engagement with transport unions and promotion of private-sector investment.
“The introduction of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, gives Nigerians a cheaper alternative for transport and power. It is about reducing transport costs, reducing business costs, and cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal,” he said.
The Commissioner urged residents to replace misinformation about CNG with knowledge, stressing that the three-day programme was designed to help participants understand the technology, its applications and the opportunities it presents.
He also disclosed that his official vehicle had already been converted to CNG as part of efforts to demonstrate the government’s support for the initiative.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Benue State Steering Committee on Coalbed Methane and Allied Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, said the workshop should serve as a bridge between awareness creation and practical implementation.
“The overall objective is to move away from awareness creation to practicals,” Ella said, adding that Benue was moving towards greater utilisation of its natural resources.
An oil expert, Dr. Matthew Ogbaba, said Benue possessed significant natural resources that could be developed and harnessed for economic benefit.
In a technical presentation titled “CNG in Your Vehicle and Generator Engines: Cheaper, Cleaner, Efficient, Locally Relevant,” the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Natural Gas and Renewable Energy and Coordinator of the Benue CNG Project, Engr. Ashir Jonathan Terkosu, explained the basic operation and conversion requirements of CNG systems.
Terkosu said CNG, which consists mainly of methane compressed under high pressure, could be used in vehicles through dedicated fuel systems or approved conversion systems, while generators could also utilise it through suitable gas engines or approved conversion and dual-fuel arrangements.
He explained that petrol-powered vehicles could generally be converted into bi-fuel systems, allowing them to retain their petrol capability while incorporating CNG. Such conversion, he said, required approved cylinders, high-pressure lines, regulators, injectors and control components, alongside proper installation, testing and calibration.
He cautioned motorists against the use of substandard equipment and unqualified technicians, stressing the need to patronise approved equipment and accredited or properly trained personnel.
He added that diesel-powered vehicles required different technical pathways depending on the vehicle type and application.
On the environmental benefits of CNG.
Terkosu said properly installed and calibrated systems could reduce particulate emissions, carbon monoxide and other pollutants compared with conventional petrol and diesel use.
He, however, cautioned that methane leakage must be prevented through proper installation and maintenance, noting that methane is a potent greenhouse gas.
Terkosu identified transportation, agriculture, agro-processing, cold-chain operations, small businesses and employment as areas where CNG could have significant applications in Benue.
According to him, CNG could potentially power tractors, irrigation pumps, dryers, mills and generators, while lower energy costs could support businesses such as bakeries, workshops, welding and fabrication enterprises and water systems.
He further identified employment opportunities in vehicle conversion, CNG station operations, cylinder inspection, gas logistics, maintenance, fabrication and technical training.
The workshop is being held against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand CNG adoption nationwide, including initiatives by aimed at supporting vehicle conversion, expanding CNG infrastructure and reducing transportation costs.
Bridget Tarker
For: Head of Centre
FIC, makurdi.
