The Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNG-i) is set to deploy the Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System to enhance safety in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) ecosystem.
The Programme Director/Chief Executive, PCNG-i, Michael Oluwagbemi, who made this known, yesterday, also stressed the importance of using accredited conversion centres across the country.
Oluwagbemi noted the unfortunate incident that involved an illegally modified vehicle at a NIPCO CNG Station at Ikpoba Hill in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate with the new system of regulation and ensure full compliance.
He added that “only accredited conversion centres must be patronised and safe handling of CNG just like petrol ensures the safety of all.” He said the PCNG-i was partnering with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), National Automotive Design And Development Council (NADDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to regulate the CNG ecosystem.
“This incident reiterates the impetus of the PCNGI and our partners (at SON, NMDPRA, NADDC and FRSC) on the soon-to-be-launched Nigeria Gas Vehicle Monitoring System to tackle any bad actors in the ecosystem that seeks to make this safer, cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of fueling risky for all,” Oluwagbemi stated.
He commiserated with those injured in the avoidable incident and expressed gratitude that no lives were lost.
According to him, initial examination revealed that the vehicle’s cylinder was improperly modified and not approved for CNG use. “The PCNG-i also notes 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 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,” he added.
…Mulls Additional Satellites To Tackle Insecurity
The Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat), the Ministry of Defence and other stakeholders are considering launching more satellites to assist the military in the war against insecurity in the country.
NigComSat is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy.
The initiative was part of the dialogue at the Stakeholders Forum 2024 with the theme: “Harnessing Communication Satellites for Sustainable Development”, as part of the Satellite Week organised by NigComSat in Abuja.
The Managing Director/CEO of NigComSat, Jane Egerton-Idehen, told reporters in an interview that, “Communication satellites can help the defence sector and the support services for our security agencies.”
She said that the agency brought different sectors together to brainstorm on how to use satellite imagery to serve the nation better, improve its security and enhance its development.
Egerton-Idehen added that the collaboration was based on Public Private Partnership (PPP), involving industry experts with genuine efforts to build the nation.
She noted that in modern times, the rules of engagement have changed, and it has become incumbent on nations to build, own and manage their own satellite system.
“Therefore, as Nigerians, we must own and manage our satellite system and strengthen the services that it delivers to those sectors,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Ibrahim Kana, told reporters on the sidelines of the event, that the partnership with NigComSat could not have come at a better time, especially for defence purposes.
He said, “One of the key aspects of the military is intelligence gathering and without satellites, our work will be restricted. Our troops move around, and they need to communicate, and we need satellites to do that. Our troops need to identify where our enemies are.
“Right now, we have moved from normal military operations to advanced operations with the use of drones and without satellites, we cannot operate our drones.
“Therefore, our partnership with NigComSat will see the launching of more satellites. Right now, the Ministry of Defence has one satellite in space, the SAT 1 that is only able to give us geospatial imagery within the area of our operation.
‘’But with the launching of more satellites, we are going to have real-time information, real-time imagery and we can monitor our enemies, especially the bandits. We have to launch more satellites to secure our country.”
