Nigeria’s diesel-dependent economy is undergoing a seismic shift, with natural gas increasingly positioned as the cheaper and cleaner alternative for power generation and transportation.
Energy consultant and UNESCO Peace Ambassador, Ambassador Nelson Bright, described the trend as irreversible, declaring: “Diesel is dying, and gas is choking it the same way petrol once drowned charcoal and kerosene.” He urged both households and businesses to transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) systems to cut costs and emissions.
With an estimated 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, Nigeria holds one of Africa’s largest deposits. Yet, diesel generators continue to dominate, fuelling homes, offices and industries at heavy financial and environmental costs.
Bright explained that gas conversion is already delivering significant savings. A 500kVA generator retrofitted into a dual-fuel system, he said, can save millions of naira annually. Some industries running on LNG have reported 60 to 80 per cent reductions in fuel bills, with the initial conversion costs recouped within months.
“CNG is ideal for transport fleets and small-scale businesses, while LNG powers large industries, estates and export hubs,” Bright added.
Case Studies of Transition
A striking example comes from an industrial ice block factory that nearly shut down due to soaring diesel prices. After converting its 80kVA generator to CNG a project executed by BEAQ Energies and WetClay Energy Technology the business slashed its operating costs and sustained production.
WetClay Energy Technology, where Bright also serves as Director of Energy Development, is currently in talks with engineering, construction and procurement companies (EPCs) to build LNG plants that will transition industrial operators to cheaper and cleaner fuel.
Infrastructure Gaps Slow Growth
Despite these gains, Bright highlighted critical gaps in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure. The country has fewer than 15 operational CNG filling stations, compared to over 30,000 petrol and diesel outlets. The scarcity of pipelines, regasification plants and mini-LNG hubs particularly in northern and eastern regions remains a major constraint.
He stressed that government support and private-sector investment must accelerate. “We need incentives for conversions, green bonds for infrastructure, and strong public awareness campaigns under the Presidential CNG Initiative. Without policy clarity and financing support, gas cannot truly become the transition fuel of our time.”
Government Flagship Project
The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline, a 614-kilometre natural gas transmission project, is one of the government’s flagship efforts to improve supply. However, Bright argued that immediate investment in decentralised gas hubs is equally important.
“Imagine an industrial park powered by locally liquefied gas, transport fleets cutting costs in half, and rural communities generating power off-grid. That vision is achievable within five to ten years if Nigeria embraces it now,” he said.
Resistance from Diesel Interests
Bright described himself as an “energy evangelist,” often likening his mission to grassroots outreach. “Like a Jehovah’s Witness, I knock on doors with the gospel of gas,” he quipped.
He also accused entrenched diesel suppliers of resisting the transition: “The diesel cartel is fighting back, spreading negative news about gas. But its days are numbered. The future is gas.”