By Mary Izuaka

 

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has addressed the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) incident involving a retrofitted Toyota Camry at the NIPCO Gas filling station on Airport Road, Abuja, assuring Nigerians of the safety of certified conversions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council confirmed the incident occurred on 13 September, noting that no fatalities or injuries were recorded.

The incident comes amid the federal government’s push for wider adoption of CNG as a cheaper alternative to petrol, following the removal of the fuel subsidy, which has led to a surge in vehicle conversions across the country.

While investigations are still ongoing, NADDC said preliminary findings suggest the vehicle may have been fitted with an additional cylinder that was neither approved nor suitable for CNG use.

The council said it is working with relevant authorities to establish the facts of the incident and to further strengthen regulatory oversight, compliance monitoring and public safety across CNG conversion activities nationwide.

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As the regulator of Nigeria’s automotive industry, NADDC reiterated that for safety and standardisation, CNG conversion must be carried out only with approved components, professional installation at certified conversion centres, proper testing and regular maintenance in line with established standards.

It therefore urged motorists to patronise only certified CNG conversion centres, use approved components and desist from unauthorised modifications to CNG systems.

NADDC said it remains firmly committed to safeguarding motorists and the public while providing the regulatory leadership required for the safe, orderly and sustainable development of CNG mobility in Nigeria.

The council also urged Nigerians to rely on verified information and not allow misleading reports to undermine confidence in properly certified CNG systems.