Tayo Ogunbiyi
Upon taking office, President Bola Tinubu made one of his key policy announcements the abolition of the contentious fuel subsidy program.
I can still vividly recollect how Mr. President looked into the excited crowd at the Eagle Square and screamed, “Fuel subsidy is gone!”
If the audience didn’t grasp the full significance of the substantial announcement initially, they certainly understood its implications by the next day, when the fuel pump price skyrocketed from approximately N180 to more than N1200.
Thus began a hyperinflation regime that suddenly shot up the prices of many items. Most affected, however, was the price of food items, as pepper, tomato, yam, rice, Gaari, and beans, among others, became prized items.
This, along with the exorbitant transportation costs, made daily life extremely difficult for ordinary citizens. The streets quickly grew chilly and silent. It’s no laughing matter; the vibrancy of the streets had faded away completely. Those worst affected were likely the workers in the unofficial economy, who depend significantly on expenditure from mid-income groups to sustain themselves. Unfortunately, even these mid-income individuals were struggling immensely.
Describing your situation as feeling the heat would be quite the understatement. Personally, what affected me the most was the expense of filling up my vehicle. Prior to the elimination of the fuel subsidy policy, I rarely spent anywhere near ₦40,000 monthly on petrol for my car. Yet, following the confirmation that “the fuel subsidy has been removed,” this expenditure skyrocketed over threefold. Now, I found myself shelling out nearly ₦300,000 each month just for fuel.
It got so bad that I became nervous each time I gazed at the fuel gauge and discovered I needed to urgently refuel. By now, a few guys have abandoned their cars, opting for commercial vehicles. The road had become lighter with limited vehicles moving around.
It was a time that truly tested the much-talked-about resilient spirit of Nigerians. Considering the impolite, lousy, and uncouth nature of the typical Lagos driver and bus conductor, for me, going through commercial buses was never an alluring option.
Therefore, I decided to bear my burden and brood in quiet solitude. At the same time, the soaring price of fuel was aggravating me immensely. Nonetheless, I resolved to take the difficult path, as James Hardly Chase suggests, for it is the sole method.
However, I quickly learned that the difficult approach was not the sole option available!
One significant day, I got a call from my old pal Ayoade, residing in an area known for its distinctive eyebrows within the city. After greeting each other warmly, I jokingly brought up the topic of the current fuel crisis.
I’m certain those of you earning substantial salaries worry less about the soaring fuel prices. As the saying goes,
man pass man”,
I said mischievously.
“Who says?” he asked.
“For your reference, I haven’t driven my SUV in roughly a year. Refueling it is extremely expensive. Instead, I’ve been using my Corolla, which is much more economical when it comes to fuel,” he explained.
Suddenly, he shifted the direction of the discussion.
“I’ve since moved on,” he stated.
“What exactly do you mean?” I questioned with great curiosity.
“I’ve switched my SUV to run on CNG. How can I possibly come and perish?” he responded.
To douse my inquisitiveness, Ayoade went on to lecture me on CNG and the process involved en route conversion. By the average guy’s standard, he spent quite a fortune to make his SUV CNG compliant.
That, in his words, was a saving grace. Ever since, he said he has stopped wasting so much on fuelling.
He said, “That’s the way to go now, my brother. Do not listen to the lies on social media. It’s safe, convenient, and cost-effective to use CNG. I have been using it for about a year now, and I can tell you that I have no regrets”.
Motivated by Ayoade’s genuine insights and recommendations, I too opted for the CNG conversion. Thanks to his guidance, I managed to retrofit my vehicle at a reduced expense due to its smaller engine size.
That was in November 2024.
Choosing that option turned out to be a life-changer. In fact, it might have been the most astute financial choice I made in 2014. As a result, my monetary situation quickly got better, and my stress levels noticeably decreased! Previously, I was almost spending N300,000 each month on fuel; now, however, my expenditures plummeted significantly to just under N30,000 per month. That’s correct!
It felt magical! Almost too incredible to be real. During my initial visit to the gas station for refueling, when I glanced at the price displayed on the meter, I was utterly astonished.
“What did you mention, sir?” I inquired of the attendant.
“Your amount is 2,800 naira, sir,” he reiterated.
I wiped my eyes, glanced at the meter, settled the bill, and swiftly sped away before he could change his mind.
This is when I found freedom from the heavy burden of expensive fuel costs.
Since November 2024, I’ve been operating a CNG-fueled vehicle, and I can definitively say it’s a superior choice, particularly beneficial for those with moderate incomes.
I journeyed from Lagos to Osogbo in Osun State using less than ₦5000 worth of gas. My trip from Lagos to Ibadan in Oyo State cost me just ₦3800 for fuel. Additionally, my travel from Lagos to Abeokuta required under ₦3000 for gas expenses. To most drivers, compressed natural gas (CNG) serves as an economic boon.
However, in the typical
Naija
In today’s fashion, it has become progressively challenging for people to fill up their cars with fuel. Many Nigerians, particularly those who operate vehicles,
Danfo, Marwa,
and
Korope,
have also
jasi
(become compliant).
Only God knows how!
However, the reality is that many commercial bus operators have switched to using CNG nowadays. Consequently, refilling your personal vehicle has become as challenging as navigating “the eye of the needle.”
It’s getting progressively more demanding, stressful, and annoying these days. One often ends up spending nearly two hours just to get a refill. The situation is quite dire. Were it not for the significant economic advantages, this would be an overwhelmingly frustrating ordeal.
One finds it rather incredible that in the whole of Lagos, there are not up to 8 functional CNG stations. I stand to be corrected, anyway! In the whole of Oyo and Osun States, as I write this piece, the functional CNG stations are not up to 3. With the high rate at which many are converting to CNG, it is quite clear that the number of CNG stations across the country needs to be increased urgently and rapidly.
The promoters of CNG did a lot to convince the people to make the shift, so they need to do more to retain them. The government and all stakeholders need to do more to fully entrench the CNG culture into our transport system. It is good to have options, and it is a better option!
Given the calming benefit it provides to individuals, particularly those who drive cars, the government can demonstrate its concern for public well-being by promoting greater investments in the entire Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure.
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Syndigate.info
).