adminis
The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians on the safety of compressed natural gas (CNG) following an explosion that destroyed vehicles at a motor park in Kaduna.
The reassurance came from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), which said the incident was under investigation and urged the public not to panic.
Head of Brand and Communications for the Initiative, Onyekachi Eke, in a statement on Sunday, described the explosion as deeply unfortunate and expressed sympathy with those affected.
The government emphasised that CNG remains a safe and reliable energy source, noting that it has maintained a strong safety record both globally and within Nigeria.
“We wish to reassure the public that natural gas, when properly handled and deployed, has a strong safety record both globally and within Nigeria, with years of use across parts of the country without incidents of this nature.
“CNG remains a safe, reliable, and cost-effective fuel option, with the added benefit of supporting cleaner energy and improved air quality. We urge the public to remain calm and avoid speculation or sensational reporting while investigations are ongoing.
“Pi-CNG & EV remains fully committed to safety and will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the highest standards across the sector”, the statement said.
The reassurance follows reports of an early morning explosion at Mando Motor Park in Kaduna, where three luxury buses powered by compressed natural gas were destroyed.
The incident, which occurred around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday while the vehicles were parked in preparation for interstate trips, did not record any casualties, according to sources.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to safety, assuring that it would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to uphold standards across the sector and provide updates as investigations progress.
