The Nigerian government has introduced a new ‘buy now and pay later’ portal aimed at facilitating the transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). This initiative allows vehicle owners to convert their petrol-powered vehicles to CNG while opting for a payment plan that lets them spread conversion costs over affordable monthly installments.

The announcement was made by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X handle on Tuesday. The government emphasized that this initiative makes switching to CNG more accessible and financially manageable, encouraging drivers to make the switch without immediate financial burden.

“With flexible payment plans tailored to fit your budget, transitioning from petrol to CNG has never been smoother or more affordable,” the government stated, highlighting the easy online application process and quick approval for potential converters.

This launch aligns with the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to establish CNG conversion centers across the country. In the past six months, centers have already been set up in the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun, Ekiti, Nasarawa, and other states.

The federal government has set an ambitious target of converting one million vehicles to CNG by 2027, with the initiative expected to reduce road transportation costs by 40%. This comes at a critical time when Nigerians are facing soaring transport costs, with fuel prices rising to between N950.22 and N1,100 per liter, up from N770.