To successfully navigate fuel subsidy removal challenges, some stakeholders in the automobile, oil and gas sectors have called on Nigerians to take advantage of alternative fuel.
They made the call at the 2023 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) annual training workshop held in Lagos at the weekend.
The Chairman, National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Mohammed M Ibrahim, mni, urged Nigerians to embrace Autogas as part of measures to ease Foreign Exchange (Forex) scarcity, create millions of Jobs and lower transportation cost.
In his presentation titled: ‘Fuel Subsidy Removal: Autogas/Electric Vehicles As Alternatives’, Ibrahim said: “Indeed, Autogas or the use of Gas (LPG/CNG/LNG) as a fuel for the mobility sector is the immediately available alternative to the conventional white products. Globally, autogas as a fuel of choice for the mobility sector has risen over 40%.Autogas powers the largest number of vehicles running on alternative fuels.”
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Speaking in a similar vein, Executive Chairman/Founder, FUNTAY, Olufunso Amoo, and Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Creek Transitway Ltd, Elijah Wisdom confirmed that some transporters have converted their trucks, advising others to do the same.
According to Ibrahim, car manufacturers are switching to direct injection engines that produce substantially lower emissions, adding, “In fact, 8 of the 10 largest car manufacturers produce LPG cars. With the steady increase in the use of autogas, the question would be, how sustainable are the world reserves to meet demand?
He said, “Autogas is the only fuel that can act as a bridge between our existing oil habits and a cleaner, less oil intensive future. To begin with, it contains more hydrogen and less carbon, so it is both better for the planet and also more easily refined into hydrogen (for fuel cells).”
Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, MFR, who was represented by Felicia Oyebolu, Deputy Director & Head Of Unit, Information & Public Relations Unit, assured stakeholders of adequate support and protection.
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Executive Director, Automotive Business, Stallion Group, Mr. Rajinder Malhan, used the opportunity of the conference to urge the Federal Government to take definite position on the auto policy.
Also speaking at the event, General Manager, Stallion NMN Limited, Amit Sharma commended NAJA for putting the event together, ’It is wonderful to see the passion you have for motoring and your determination to keep abreast of trends in the sector from the issue of alternative fuels to development and innovation in the sector’.
According to him, Electric Vehicle policies govern everything from the duties and tariffs payable on EVs brought into the country.