Nigerians have expressed concerns over the safety of the Compressed Natural Gas converted vehicles following recent explosions involving some vehicles.
They raised questions about the safety standards and regulatory oversight of the conversions.
In May, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, led a delegation of the Federal Government on a visit to the scene of a CNG truck explosion at Ita-Oshin, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The truck belonging to Gascon Marine Limited exploded and claimed one life, while about six vehicles and two shops were burnt.
Ekpo also cited a second explosion, which he said involved another CNG-powered vehicle in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The latest explosion in Benin, Edo State, caught the attention of many Nigerians who were considering converting their petrol-powered vehicles to CNG.
The Edo incident, which occurred at a NIPCO CNG station at Ikpoba Hill, left two people injured.
According to NIPCO Gas, the cylinder installed in the vehicle was later identified as a fake, fabricated, substandard unit not designed for CNG, adding that it exploded after refill with around four standard cubic metres of gas.
The driver was said to have fled the scene immediately after the incident that left two persons injured.
“While no fatalities were recorded, two individuals sustained injuries. One person suffered a leg injury, and another sustained an eye injury. Based on the attending doctor’s recommendation, one of the individuals will require surgery at a different hospital. Our team is ensuring they receive the necessary care and treatment,” NIPCO Gas said in a statement made available to our correspondent.
Credit: punchng.com
