By Aondowase Agabi
Rising from a One-day Stakeholders Engagement Forum on the Provision of Technical Manpower and Facility for the Development and Promotion of Autogas as Transportation Fuel in Nigeria organised by Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria, participant’s agreed to far reaching decisions.
Core amount the recommendations is that the FG should partner private Sector investors for research, development, and deployment of Autogas Fuel in Nigeria.
Also the Federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sectors for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal
Find below the full communiqué issued.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 1-DAY STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT FORUM ON THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER AND FACILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF AUTOGAS AS TRANSPORTATION FUEL IN NIGERIA ORGANISED BY NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY (NITT), HELD ON 11TH JULY 2023 AT NAF CONFERENCE CENTRE & SUITES, KADO DISTRICT, ABUJA
Introduction:
The One-day Stakeholders Engagement Forum on the Provision of Technical Manpower and Facility for the Development and Promotion of Autogas as Transportation Fuel in Nigeria organised by Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria was successfully held at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites, Abuja on 11th July, 2023. The theme of the conference was “Autogas as Alternative Fuel for Transportation in Nigeria”.
Overview:
The Stakeholders Engagement forum was graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation ably represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Ilori, the Director, Transport Planning and Coordination (TPC) of the Ministry. Also in attendance are DG/CE Infrastructure Concessioning Regulatory Commission (ICRC), representative of the DG/CE National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), representative of the National President Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), National President Chartered Institute of Transportation Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA), President National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), President National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the Chairman, National Gas Expansion programme (NGEP), Commissioner of Transport Anambra State, representative of Nigerian Automobile Technician Association (NATA), representatives of the DG Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), representatives from the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), representative of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigerian (ABCON), representatives of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), MD’s of Kaduna Line Limited, Plateau Express, Adamawa Sunshine, Rivers Transport, National President of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN), Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), FCT Transport Secretariat and over 150 physical participants from all over Nigeria mostly from transport sector and professional bodies as well as Academicians, Transport Unions, Transport Professionals, Investors, Journalists, and other relevant stakeholders.
The Stakeholders engagement forum created the needed awareness on Autogas as alternative fuel in Nigeria as the population grew exponentially from 180 million to over 200 million between 2016 and 2019, leading to an increase in the usage of Transport Infrastructure and rise in the demand for PMS, diesel (dirty fuels), thus making the industry a major contributor to carbon emissions, which poses a serious threat to human life and the environment. In view of the negative impact of these dirty fuels to the environment, there is the need for alternative options for transportation fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) known as Autogas, which should become widely used and accepted as an alternative automotive fuel. The Nigeria Gas reserves is about 209 TCF and the Gas Production is between 8.15 – 8.35 BSCFD which is more than enough for the nation.
The welcome address was presented by the Director General/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Bayero Salih Farah where he welcomed participants to the event.
The keynote address of the Permanent Secretary was presented by Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Olanike Ilori, Director Transport Planning and Coordination (TPC) of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, she commended the NITT for organising this stakeholders’ engagement and wishes the participants fruitful deliberations. Goodwill messages were also presented by DG/CE ICRC, President NURTW, President NARTO, the National President of CIoTA and the Anambra State Commissioner of Transport. Three papers were presented by different speakers, namely Dr M. M. Ibrahim (Chairman NGEP) Dr. Danjuma Ismail (Director Transport Technology Centre, NITT and Mr. Oladele Fajorin (Testflex Technology Limited AC, SA (STAG) Poland).
Observations
1. The Stakeholders’ engagement forum acknowledged the efforts of NGEP in collaboration with NITT in the facilitation and enablement of successful deployment of Autogas in Nigeria.
2. The forum observed that, there is need;
i. to consider how the project could be funded as well as the impact of the use of Autogas would have on the environment,
ii. to establish Partnership with Private and Government Institutions to build Capacity on Autogas conversion technology
iii. to enhance the domestication of Autogas conversion technology through reverse Engineering
3. The Autogas project has opportunities to attract investors into the country,
4. The risk factor on the environment and the climate is low.
5. Transportation contributes to only about 23% of global warming world-wide,
6. It will create jobs and open business opportunities, thereby improving earnings and reducing crime rate and poverty,
7. There is short supply of manpower for Autogas conversion services in Nigeria.
Implementation Status
1 There are over 9,000 Licensed retail outlets classified fit-for – purpose for co-location of Autogas Fuel nationwide
2 There are 50 conversion centers currently upgrading for mass conversion and trainings of technicians in the country
3 Auto assemblers already producing fit-for-purpose dual fuel vehicles in the country
4 NGEP had held extensive multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and secured impressive program support and buy-in
5 Government is supporting the deployment of over one million conversion kits for trucks and smaller vehicles
6 Government is supporting the optimal availability of all Autogas fuel streams
7 Adoption of Autogas technology is good for Nigeria in the short and long term.
Recommendations
The forum recommended as follows:
1 The Federal Ministry of Transportation should collaborate with relevant Stakeholders and the private Sector for research, development, and deployment of Autogas Fuel in Nigeria.
2 Federal Government should provide incentives to motorists, especially in the public transport and road freights sub-sectors for the conversion kits acquisition as a way of cushioning fuel subsidy removal
3 Government should subsidize the kits or grant import duty waiver on the kits, similar to what happens in other countries
4 Regulatory institutions should ensure only genuine kits are allowed in to Nigerian market
5 The government and other organisations should support NITT Autogas initiative
6 Gas marketers should roll out more distribution centres across the country
7 Government should support research, development, and deployment of alternative-fuel technology either through voluntary agreements with OEMs and fuel providers or through collaborative partnerships with industry players
8 Users of Autogas technology should patronize only service providers with the right expertise.
9 Awareness should be ramped up on the benefit of Autogas to Nigerians and the economy.
10 Enabling Regulatory framework is necessary for the Autogas technology sector to succeed.
11 There is need for the Federal Government to encourage the establishment of Autogas filling stations in all the Local Governments in the Federation for proper take-off of the project.
CONCLUSIONS
The Stakeholders Engagement forum was held successfully with all the stakeholders unanimously endorsing the project to convert majority of Nigerian vehicles from fossil fuel to Autogas. The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology was mandated to reach out to relevant agencies for successful implementation of the project.
Dr. O. I. Ogunwede of the NADDC moved the motion for adoption of the communique and was seconded by Mrs. Keziah Humphrey of Plateau Express.
