The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to use only certified Compressed Natural Gas refuelling stations to ensure safety following a recent cylinder explosion at NIPCO’s CNG refuelling station in Benin City, Edo State.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, stressed the importance of adhering to standards to protect lives and property.
“We will not allow unscrupulous individuals to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to promote access to quality energy for the automobile sector,” Okeke said.
He added that SON would not tolerate any violations of the laid-down standards, guidelines, and procedures governing the CNG conversion sector.
According to SON, the preliminary investigations into the Benin explosion revealed that the cylinder used at the station did not meet approved CNG standards, failing to live to the Federal Government’s initiative which aims to drive economic growth by facilitating the efficient movement of people, goods, and services.
SON has developed 88 standards to regulate the sector, attract investors, and guarantee quality service delivery.
The organisation maintained that all CNG equipment and conversion kits must conform to these standards before being certified for public use.
The SON DG assured the public that the regulator has robust measures in place to ensure compliance. “CNG conversion is safe, but end-users must patronise only certified centres,” Okeke said.
He highlighted the structural differences between Liquefied Petroleum Gas and CNG cylinders, warning that LPG cylinders are not suitable for CNG containment due to their lower pressure capacity and different construction.
SON stated it is working with the Presidential Initiative on CNG to finalise the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System to strengthen monitoring.
It added that the system will provide a centralised platform for the surveillance of CNG systems and ensure that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets. It will also offer a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers.
Okeke reiterated SON’s commitment to ensuring the safety of CNG use in Nigeria, urging all stakeholders to prioritise safety.
He also noted that SON has trained personnel ready to provide technical support to investors, ensuring that Nigerians get value for their money.