Julius Okorie
The Federal Government has blamed the explosion of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle in Edo State on improperly welded Cylinder.
The CNG-powered vehicle exploded at the NIPCO gas station in Aduwawa, along the Benin-Auchi highway, on Thursday, October 17, 2024, leaving many within the vicinity with various degrees of injuries.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a video of the incident shared on social media, a station wagon had its entire rear section shattered with shrapnel scattered across the premises.
Several nearby vehicles were also damaged, showing visible dents from the blast. The explosion Primebusiness.africa gathered, happened while the station wagon’s CNG cylinder was being refuelled.
The explosion is coming at a time the Present administration is promoting a shift to CNG vehicle citing its cost saving and environmental friendly qualities as reason for its embrace.
READ ALSO: CNG Will Reduce Transport Costs By 70% – NASENI Boss
The CNG is being refilled at N260 per litre as against petrol currently being sold at N1,030 official rate approved by NNPC, but being sold at between N1,100 to N1,500 depending on the location by independent marketers.
Meanwhile, the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) has commiserated with the injured over the incident.
The PCNGI in response on X said; “The PCNGI commiserate with those injured in this avoidable incident, and thankful that no lives were lost. The PCNGI also note that safe handling of all hydrocarbon is critical to their safe use. A close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City shows it was welded and modified and not an approved for use for CNG.
“The police, regulatory authorities and management of NIPCO are undertaking a painstaking investigation of the incident and we are coordinating with them.
“This incident reiterates the impetus of the PCNGI and our partners on the soon to be launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System at SON, NMDPRA, NADDC and FRSC to tackle any bad actors in the ecosystem that seeks to make this safer, cheaper, and cleaner and more reliable source of fuelling risky for all.
“We also call on all stakeholders to cooperate with the new system of regulation and ensure full compliance. Only accredited conversion centres must be patronised and safe handling of CNG just like petrol ensures safety of all.”
Some have however raised safety questions over conversion of just any vehicle to CNG.
Reacting to the explosion @legend_082 said; “I hope lesson is learned here. Never go against the recommendation of the car manufacturer. I haven’t heard or seen government cars being converted to CNG. That would tell you something is definitely wrong.”
@MJO_Maddox commented wrote; “Change to CNG change to CNG. No one is talking about the explosion. That is it.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
