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FG Launches Free CNG Conversion Program for One Million Vehicles in Ogun State
In a bid to alleviate the economic impact of the fuel subsidy removal, the federal government officially launched the Conversion Incentive Programme under its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday.
During the inauguration, Michael Oluwagbemi, CEO and Program Director of the Presidential CNG project, highlighted the primary goal of converting one million vehicles to run on CNG at no cost to the vehicle owners.
This initiative, according to him, aligns with the President’s commitment to ease the burden on Nigerians. Oluwagbemi further elaborated that the program will collaborate with four newly signed conversion centres in Ogun State to meet its target.
He emphasized that the launch of the initiative represents a direct response to the President’s previous national address, where the President acknowledged the challenges Nigerians are facing and pledged to support them.
Oluwagbemi stated, “We are here to officially kick off the Conversion Incentive Programme as part of the President’s promise to convert a million vehicles for free.
Today, in Abeokuta, we begin fulfilling that commitment. We will be working alongside conversion centres here in Ogun State, four of which have already been signed up.”
He also noted that the conversion kits will be distributed to commercial drivers, particularly those affiliated with transport unions such as the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
According to Oluwagbemi, Ogun State now has 60 conversion centres across the country as part of this federal initiative. “Each centre will receive free conversion kits, provided by the Federal Ministry of Finance, to carry out the conversions.
Fifty nominees from each of the three major unions will have access to these facilities, ensuring that conversions begin promptly,” he said.
Once the vehicles are converted, drivers will be able to refuel at designated CNG stations, several of which are already operational within the state.
In addition, Jide Onakoya, Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Energy, expressed optimism about the programme’s impact.
He described it as a transformative development for Ogun State, adding that it would significantly contribute to reducing environmental pollution while offering cost savings for drivers and commuters alike.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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