Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has secured a commitment from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to set up additional Compressed Natural Gas filling stations across Kogi State, following rising complaints over severe gas shortages that have disrupted commercial transport.
The intervention came after commercial tricycle operators in Kogi Central Senatorial District raised concerns over worsening scarcity, blaming the single existing filling station serving the area as demand grows alongside the wider adoption of the federal government’s clean energy program. Operators under the Kogi Central Tricycle Network said the shortage had caused long queues, lost working hours and growing hardship for both transporters and commuters, according to a statement from the senator’s media office.
The operators argued that the lone CNG facility could no longer meet demand from riders who had embraced the shift to cleaner and cheaper fuel. The complaints drew the attention of Akpoti-Uduaghan, who engaged the PCNGI leadership to seek a lasting solution.
The senator said she had personally discussed the matter with the PCNGI Chairman, Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed, who assured her that his office was already working to facilitate the establishment of more CNG stations across the state to bridge the supply gap.
Confirming the plan, Ahmed said arrangements were being finalized to expand CNG infrastructure through partnerships with private investors. He noted that Kogi holds a strategic position in Nigeria’s gas value chain and remains a priority for investment because of its economic importance and location along major transport routes. He cited the Ajaokuta gas hub, heavy traffic volume and the state’s role as a key transit corridor as reasons for siting more gas stations along the route.
Transport operators and residents welcomed the commitment, expressing hope that the new facilities would ease the persistent shortages affecting daily transport and economic activity. Stakeholders urged the authorities to ensure swift execution, warning that delays could undermine the gains of the clean energy transition. The planned expansion is expected to support the government’s drive toward cleaner energy while giving commercial operators more reliable and affordable access to CNG.
