The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, on Tuesday inaugurated three liquefied-to-compressed natural gas (LCNG) facilities in Kano State, describing them as major milestones in the Federal Government’s ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative.
Developed by Rolling Energy Limited with support from the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), the facilities are designed to expand clean energy access, reduce transport costs, and boost economic activities across Northern Nigeria.
Infrastructure Breakdown and Capacity
The new assets cover both major distribution hubs and retail stations across key commercial areas in Kano:
Tamburawa Hub (Dawakin Kudu LGA): A major distribution hub with a capacity of 300,000 standard cubic metres per day (scmd). It handles LNG storage, regasification, and CNG distribution to supply daughter stations and commercial users.
Hotoro Station (Tarauni LGA): A 21,000-scmd LCNG daughter station and retail outlet tailored for local commuters, private vehicles, and commercial transport operators.
Policy to Infrastructure
Speaking at the unveiling, Ekpo stressed the administration’s focus on moving beyond policy formulation to executing infrastructure projects that deliver tangible economic relief to citizens.
”We must move from policies to projects, from plans to infrastructure, and from gas reserves beneath our soil to affordable energy that actually reaches our homes, businesses, industries and transportation systems,” Ekpo said.
He noted that attracting private investment through funds like the MDGIF remains central to expanding gas penetration and building a resilient domestic energy market.
Supporting Vehicle Conversions
Representing Ismail Ahmed, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (P-CNGi), Special Adviser Omoh Imoukhede emphasized that vehicle conversion programs must align with refuelling infrastructure expansion.
”Conversion without refuelling infrastructure will not deliver the transition we want. The two must grow together,” Imoukhede noted, adding that reliable refuelling access gives commercial drivers and fleet operators the confidence to switch from petrol to CNG.
State backing and Market Demand
Representing Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Dr. Gaddafi Sani Shehu, highlighted that Kano’s dense population and regional trade links have created immense demand for CNG.
Shehu disclosed that existing refuelling stations in the state were already overwhelmed by the growing number of converted vehicles, welcoming Rolling Energy’s investment as a timely intervention for the state’s transport sector.
