The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has secured a commitment from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative to establish additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across Kogi State.

The move follows growing concerns over acute shortages of CNG, which have disrupted transportation services and increased hardship for commercial tricycle operators and commuters in the state.

According to a statement from the senator’s media office on Monday, members of the Kogi Central Tricycle Network complained that the shortage had resulted in long queues at the only available CNG station serving the area.

The operators said the single facility was no longer sufficient to meet rising demand from transporters who had adopted the Federal Government’s clean energy initiative, leading to lost working hours and reduced income.

They described the situation as critical and called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged the leadership of the Presidential CNG Initiative to seek a lasting solution to the supply challenge.

The senator said she discussed the issue with the Chairman of the initiative, Ismaeel Ahmed, who assured her that steps were underway to expand CNG infrastructure across the state.

“My dear friend, Ismaeel Ahmed, who chairs the Presidential CNG Initiative, has assured me that his office is currently facilitating the establishment of several CNG stations across Kogi State. This will help bridge the supply gap and address the current scarcity,” she said.

Confirming the development, Ahmed noted that plans were being concluded to expand CNG facilities in Kogi through partnerships with private sector investors.

He said the state’s strategic importance in Nigeria’s gas value chain, along with its location along major transport routes, made it a priority for infrastructure expansion.

“Kogi State is home to the Ajaokuta gas hub, and because of its strategic location, heavy traffic volume and importance as a major transportation corridor, we will be bringing more gas stations along that route,” he said.

The Federal Government has continued to promote the adoption of CNG as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol under the Presidential CNG Initiative, introduced to reduce transport costs following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Transport operators and residents in Kogi have welcomed the planned expansion, expressing hope that additional stations will ease supply pressure and improve access to CNG across the state.