As the price of petrol continues to skyrocket like a Nigerian landlord increasing rent, the talk of converting cars to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has started gaining ground. But na we Nigerians dey look am with one eye. “Which one be this CNG again?” Many people dey ask as dem shake head like person wey no believe. After all, na dis same country we dey where dem promise stable electricity and we still dey buy generator like say na red garri.
But make we reason am small – if CNG conversion go fit reduce the wahala of petrol price and help small small for our economy, e no go bad at all. The question wey everybody dey ask na how we go encourage Nigerians to embrace this CNG matter? Because if e no make sense for pocket, Nigerians no dey rush do am.
Why Nigerians Dey Fear CNG?
First, make we talk about wetin dey make people dey fear CNG. For most people, na new wahala. Wetin be this gas wey dem wan put inside our motor, and how we go even start to dey drive with am? Nigerians no go like wahala for their car. If your motor dey run well with petrol, you no go wan do anything wey fit come spoil am. Plus, the fear of “where I go find gas for my car?” don full people mind. CNG no dey as available as petrol, and nobody wan be the first to go line up for CNG when fuel no dey finish for road.
Some people also dey fear say if CNG dey inside your car, e fit explode like firecracker. Na small-small myths like this dey make Nigerians look CNG like wetin no follow. Dem go say “abeg, I no wan turn my car to cooking gas o!”
But if we wan talk true, the benefits of CNG conversion no be small. The fuel no dey pollute the air like petrol, e dey cheaper, and if dem convert your car well, e no go give you stress. Plus, Nigeria get plenty natural gas. The question na how we go take convince our people say CNG no be problem, but solution?
Govt, Where Una Dey?
To make Nigerians accept this CNG wahala, the first place where we go look na government. If we go say the truth, the way dem dey push CNG matter dey like new pikin wey nobody wan carry. Yes, dem dey talk about am for news, but we no dey see the ginger for road. How many filling stations dey sell CNG? And how many people know say dem fit convert their motor without headache?
If the government wan make this thing work, dem go need use big campaign. Dem go need dey show people for radio, TV, social media, and even go inside the markets, churches, mosques, and motor parks to explain wetin CNG be and how e go help us. When we wan sell new thing to Nigerians, na practical explanation we dey need, no be theory. We no go just carry CNG land for people hand like surprise party.
Imagine say government start roadshows with banners wey talk say “Convert Your Car, Save Your Money.” Then for the back dem fit add “Na Fuel We Dey Talk O!” Make the thing look simple and fun, no be big grammar wey go scare people.
Reduce Cost of Conversion – Na Money Matter O!
We all know say Nigerians dey calculate cost for head before dem make any decision. If you tell person to convert their car to CNG and e go cost dem serious money, dem go look you like say you no sabi the state of the country. Money no dey flow like before, and many people dey try manage the small wey dem get.
If government fit subsidize the cost of converting to CNG, people go rush am like new rice wey just land market. Or if dem no fit subsidize everything, make dem give people soft payment options, something like “convert now, pay later” wey go fit encourage people to take the bold step.
Dem go also need ensure say the places where people fit convert their car no be scam or half-baked workshops. Because, you know as we dey for this country, if person hear story of one bad workshop wey spoil motor for conversion, e go spread like wildfire. We need certified workshops and proper inspection so that people no go fear to go convert.
We Love Safety O!
One other wahala wey dey stop people from accepting CNG conversion na safety concerns. Nigerians no dey joke with their safety, and nobody wan risk their life just because dem wan save small money for fuel. The idea say gas dey your motor dey make some people think of explosion wey dem see for films.
Government and experts need to explain well well say CNG na safe option. Dem go need do workshops, seminars, and public demonstrations to show say e no dey dangerous. Na here media go play big role. Imagine news reports or viral social media videos wey show how CNG cars dey work safely without any “gbosa” effect.
For places like Lagos where people sabi get anxiety attack when dem see small gas, the awareness and education need strong pass the fuel wey we dey talk about.
Incentives and Benefits: Na Wetin We Go Gain?
We Nigerians no go rush do anything unless we know wetin we go gain. So, to boost CNG conversion, the government need give people reasons wey dem go see as better gain. Apart from cheaper fuel, maybe make dem dash people small incentive like reduction for vehicle tax, free registration after conversion, or even free gas for one month.
People go always respond well to gifts, even if na small. If dem know say dem fit get better value for converting their car, dem go embrace the idea sharp sharp.
CNG Na Way Forward – But We Need Clarity
Nigerians na sharp people, once dem see say something dey beneficial, dem go key in quickly. But for now, CNG conversion still look like wetin be only for rich people or something wey go require too much stress. If government and stakeholders go fit clarify and simplify the process, provide incentives, and ensure safety, Nigerians go embrace this CNG like we embrace jollof rice for party.
At the end of the day, we know say fuel price no dey go down anytime soon, and as we dey hustle for better options, CNG conversion fit be the next big thing wey go change how we drive for this country. But until Nigerians see how e go benefit their life, wallet, and motor, dem go still dey look am with corner eye.
In the words of one danfo driver, “abeg, if e go cheap pass petrol, I dey game, but if na story, make we rest!” And that’s the Nigerian spirit – we go dey open to the idea, but we need to see the sense and value first. So, to boost CNG acceptance, na proper communication, incentives, and reliable infrastructure we need. If dem fit do this, then the conversion go follow smoothly. Na fuel we dey talk o, no be small thing!
