The federal government has been advised to engage more competent and committed firms to fast-track the spread and implementation of its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, especially across northern Nigeria, where the current pace of development has been described as disappointing and suspiciously slow.

 

The call was made during a roundtable discussion held on Saturday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, by the Development and Safety Professional Association (DSPA). The group raised concerns over the performance of Rolling Energy, the company tasked with spearheading the CNG project in the northern region.

In a communique, the regional coordinator of the association, Engr. Bukar Hashimu Goni, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s CNG initiative, describing it as a “noble and commendable policy” aimed at cushioning the impact of fuel subsidy removal. However, he lamented the poor implementation in the north, blaming the contracted firm for undermining the administration’s vision.

“We have watched how other private firms, engaged by the federal government, are professionally handling the project in other parts of the country. The same cannot be said about Rolling Energy, which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the success of the CNG in northern Nigeria,” Engr. Goni stated.

 

“As a professional association, since the takeoff of the CNG initiative, we have patiently tracked, monitored, and assessed all private firms engaged by the federal government. Unfortunately, the company handling the northern part of the country seems to be the least qualified and ill-prepared for such a massive project,” he added.

 

Engr. Goni noted that in Maiduguri, the company has three incomplete sites with no realistic timeline for completion, while in Kano and Kaduna — major economic hubs — there is no visible presence at all. He also described the facility in Kwara State as “a small site with insignificant input compared to the scale of demand.”

 

Speaking at the same event, DSPA’s technical director, Architect Mansur Walid, made a direct appeal to President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), and relevant agencies to investigate the operations of Rolling Energy.

 

 

“We unequivocally appeal to the president, the NSA, and other security agencies to beam their searchlight on the activities of the company handling the north, whose majority management are Indians. We suspect foul play and deliberate sabotage in terms of the CNG initiative,” Walid said.

 

“The fact that other firms are doing well in some parts of the country, especially southern Nigeria, raises serious concerns. Why then is Rolling Energy unable to effectively take off in northern Nigeria?” he asked.

 

The group called on the federal government to review existing contracts and prioritize firms with proven capacity and local understanding to prevent regional disparities in the implementation of national policies.