A vehicle powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) exploded at the NIPCO filling station in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at Ikpoba Hill, along the Benin-Auchi expressway, and left several people injured.
A video shared on social media shows the car severely damaged. Reports state that three people were hurt and taken to a private hospital for treatment.
This incident has sparked worries about the safety of converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG, a practice promoted by the Nigerian government. In response, the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), which supports this conversion process, sent its condolences to the victims and confirmed that the vehicle involved had been illegally modified.
Their statement read, “The PCNGI commiserates with those injured in this avoidable incident and is thankful that no lives were lost. A close examination of the cylinder in question in Benin City shows it was welded and modified, and not approved for CNG use.”
Authorities, including the police and regulatory bodies, are now investigating the cause of the explosion. The PCNGI emphasized that only accredited conversion centers should be used for vehicle modifications and that proper handling of CNG is as important as petrol for ensuring safety.
They added, “This incident reiterates the importance of the soon-to-be-launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System to prevent unsafe practices.” The group called for full cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure safer conversions.
