The Federal Government is considering the deployment of mobile Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations to rural communities as part of efforts to make cheaper energy more accessible to farmers and reduce agricultural production costs.
The proposal is expected to address the difficulty of accessing CNG in remote locations where establishing permanent refuelling stations may not be commercially attractive to private investors.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential CNG Initiative and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed the plan during an energy-focused roundtable discussion in Abuja.
The meeting, organised by the All Progressives Congress and the Progressive Strategy Roundtable, examined ways to improve energy affordability, strengthen fuel security and expand access to reliable energy across the country.
Ahmed explained that consultations with state governments, particularly in northern Nigeria, had revealed increasing interest in using CNG beyond transportation, especially for agricultural activities.
According to him, farmers are exploring the possibility of switching from petrol and diesel-powered irrigation equipment to gas-powered alternatives to reduce the amount they spend on fuel.
He noted that the proposed mobile stations would make CNG available in underserved communities without requiring farmers to travel long distances to access existing refuelling facilities.
The initiative is particularly relevant to farmers who depend on mechanical irrigation pumps to sustain agricultural activities outside the rainy season.
Ahmed cited Jigawa State as an example, explaining that the governor had informed the initiative that more than two million farmers in the state could benefit from improved access to affordable energy for irrigation.
He also compared the coverage of mechanical irrigation pumps with solar-powered alternatives, stating that mechanical pumps could serve approximately three hectares of farmland, while solar-powered pumps typically cover about one hectare.
Although solar-powered irrigation is being promoted as an alternative energy source, he said some farmers prefer mechanical pumps because of their wider coverage and operational capacity.
The proposed mobile CNG facilities could therefore provide another option for farmers seeking to reduce operating expenses while maintaining the capacity to irrigate larger portions of their farmland.
Ahmed further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had authorised the initiative to intensify its activities as the Federal Government continues efforts to expand gas infrastructure and encourage the adoption of CNG across different sectors.
However, he identified inadequate gas supply and delays in obtaining licences for CNG refuelling facilities as major challenges affecting the programme.
He appealed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to accelerate the licensing process for investors interested in establishing CNG facilities.
While acknowledging that gas infrastructure requires strict safety standards and regulatory oversight, he urged the regulator to streamline approval procedures without compromising safety requirements.
The initiative's chairman also disclosed that Nigeria's CNG programme had recorded approximately 143,000 vehicle conversions, with investments estimated at $2.6 billion.
The wider discussion also addressed electricity access, rural electrification, power generation and the country's long-term energy security.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, highlighted the need to improve electricity access in underserved communities through mini-grids and captive power projects.
He disclosed plans to deploy 1,350 mini-grids under a $750 million project designed to expand electricity access in rural areas.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Abdullahi Kassim, said the company operated 10 power plants with a combined generation capacity of 4,000 megawatts.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Musiliu Oseni, also discussed electricity affordability and ongoing efforts to improve power supply through investments in generation, mini-grids and other interventions.
On fuel availability, the representative of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mustapha Lamorde, disclosed that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, with a combined capacity of approximately 445,000 barrels per day, remained shut down at the time of the discussion.
He said the government was engaging international technical experts to address challenges affecting the facilities.
The discussions also covered local electric vehicle production, battery manufacturing, solar energy development and opportunities for private-sector investment in Nigeria's energy industry.
If implemented, mobile CNG stations could extend the benefits of alternative energy beyond urban transport users and into agricultural communities where fuel costs directly affect production expenses.
However, the success of the proposal will depend on reliable gas supply, regulatory approvals, safety arrangements and the practical ability to deliver CNG to remote farming locations.
For farmers who depend on fuel-powered irrigation, improved access to cheaper energy could help reduce operating costs and support agricultural activities throughout the year.