By Khalid Doya Idris
The Bauchi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (BACCIMA) has expressed concern that Northern Nigeria has been totally sidelined in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) rollout, which presents a significant opportunity to transform Nigeria's energy landscape and promote environmental sustainability.
According to the Chamber President, Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, the exclusion of Northern stakeholders, particularly indigenous investors and operators, contradicts the constitutional provision of Federal Character. "CNG is part of Nigeria's broader energy transition plan, aimed at reducing dependency on petrol and diesel by promoting cleaner, more affordable fuels," Danmaliki explained.
However, Danmaliki regretted that the CNG program is concentrated in Southern Nigeria, leaving the North to lose out on economic opportunities, private sector growth, transportation cost savings, and energy security and environmental benefits. "Southern Nigeria benefits from job creation in mechanical conversion, fueling station management, logistics, and training, leaving the North without similar investments, with local economies missing out," he said.
The Chamber President noted that entrepreneurs and SMEs in the South gain first-mover advantages in CNG-related businesses, such as vehicle conversion workshops and fleet services. He added that the North, where long-distance transportation is common and costs are already high, lacks CNG access, keeping transport costs high and affecting prices of goods, especially food and essentials.
On energy security and environmental impact, Danmaliki said that transitioning to cleaner fuels would significantly reduce emissions in the North, which relies heavily on road transport for goods. Without CNG access, the region continues to use high-polluting fuels, undermining national unity and economic equity.
Danmaliki called for an equitable expansion of CNG infrastructure, including refueling stations, conversion centers, training hubs, and support services across Northern Nigeria. "Southern states currently benefit from CNG-related job creation, SME development, and industrial investments, while the North has been placed on unequal economic opportunity," he emphasized.
The BACCIMA President highlighted the cost disparity between CNG and petrol, stating that while it costs a Southerner N3,000 to cover a distance of 150km using CNG, a Northerner would pay N40,000 to travel the same distance using petrol. Danmaliki urged the Federal Government to ensure national inclusivity, energy transition fairness, and economic development by including the North in the CNG rollout.
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Industry/ Commercial