When Nigerians were told Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) would be their “escape fuel,” many believed salvation was finally here. It was marketed as the cheaper, cleaner, and government-backed alternative to petrol and diesel. Motorists sold property, joined long conversion queues, and proudly switched to what was branded the fuel of the future.
But now, the bubble has burst. The Federal Government has announced that there will be no subsidy on CNG, a revelation that lands like a betrayal. Prices have started to climb, and commuters are already groaning under yet another blow to their pockets.
“No Subsidy, No Turning Back”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, did not mince words. Speaking to journalists, he said: “There is no subsidy on CNG. What Nigerians are seeing in the market is the reality of supply and demand.”
In plain English: the government has washed its hands clean, leaving the forces of the market to determine how much Nigerians pay at the pump.
A Dream Turned Nightmare
For months, CNG was sold as the golden ticket, a bold transition that would save Nigerians from the chokehold of petrol prices and lessen the burden of subsidy removal. But what was meant to be a reprieve is quickly morphing into yet another economic nightmare.
Imagine being a commercial driver in Lagos who spent ₦750,000 converting your bus from petrol to CNG. You celebrated, believing you had outsmarted the system. Fast forward to September 2025, and you’re right back where you started: longer queues, higher fares, and passengers who can barely afford to pay.
Nigerians React: “We Are Tired of Empty Promises”
Social media is on fire. Many Nigerians feel deceived, calling this yet another example of government’s “bait-and-switch.”
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “They told us to switch to CNG, now they’ve abandoned us. Who exactly is planning for this country?”
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Another quipped with Lagos humour: “First it was petrol, then diesel, now CNG. At this rate, Nigerians may soon have to push their cars like wheelbarrows.”
Has Energy Transition Already Failed?
This development raises deeper questions beyond fuel prices. If Nigeria cannot manage the transition to CNG, a bridge fuel already in abundant local supply, how then will it handle the leap to renewable energy?
Energy experts argue that without clear policies, subsidies (or at least incentives), and infrastructure investment, Nigeria risks turning every reform into yet another nightmare for its citizens.
What This Means For You
* Transport fares will rise again. Expect higher bus fares in major cities as commercial drivers pass the cost to passengers.
* Investors may back out. Many who were eyeing CNG expansion may retreat, seeing no stability in the government’s policy.
* The poor will suffer more. For families already struggling with food inflation and rent hikes, this could be the last straw.
Reality Check
The government insists Nigerians must accept the reality of market forces. But for millions who bought into the “CNG dream,” this reality feels more like betrayal than reform.
If this is the shape of Nigeria’s energy future, then the promise of “affordable alternatives” may just be another chapter in the long story of dashed hopes.
