FG addresses Edo CNG vehicle explosion, says cylinder was improperly welded and unauthorised

The federal government has responded to the explosion of a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle in Edo State, revealing that the cylinder involved was improperly welded and lacked the necessary approval for use.

Intel Region reports earlier that the CNG-powered vehicle exploded at the NIPCO gas station in Aduwawa, along the Benin-Auchi highway, on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

The incident left many people with various degrees of injuries and created tension among the people in the vicinity left many people around the vicinity.

In a video of the incident shared on social media, a station wagon, whose entire rear section was obliterated, is shown with shrapnel scattered across the premises.

Several nearby vehicles were also damaged, showing visible dents from the blast. The explosion reportedly happened while the station wagon’s CNG cylinder was being refueled.

The CNG initiative is being promoted by President Tinubu’s administration and is considered a cheaper alternative to the very expensive petrol, which sells for over N1,000 per litre, compared to CNG at N260.

This is coming on the heels of safety concerns raised about the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as advocated for by the Nigerian government.

@legend_082 said; “I hope lesson is learned here. Never go against the recommendation of the car manufacturer. I haven’t heard or seen government cars being converted to CNG. That would tell you something is definitely wrong.

@MJO_Maddox commented; “Only factory produced CNG vehicles are relatively safe. Cars converted to CNG vehicles are not safe.”

@MJO_Maddox commented wrote; “Change to CNG change to CNG. No one is talking about the explosion. That is it.”