Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, North Central Nigeria, is advancing plans to establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facility in Ilorin, the state capital.

The university’s Engineering department has already completed the conversion of four vehicles from fossil fuel to CNG and is in the process of converting 22 more. In a significant step to support this initiative, KWASU has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese firms Zhejiang Sinray Electronics Company and Jiaxing Keyuan Electronics Company Limited, securing the supply of essential CNG conversion kits.

Speaking at the university’s business school in Ilorin, KWASU Vice Chancellor Professor Jimoh Shaykh-Lukman showcased the converted and hybrid vehicles, stating that the collaboration with experienced Chinese suppliers is intended to maintain high-quality standards and prevent safety risks associated with inferior products. He added that KWASU intends to scale up the conversion process to make CNG technology more accessible to the public.

He emphasised that KWASU has been committed to reducing carbon emissions and promoting a clean, green environment.

“As part of this commitment, KWASU engineers have already converted four fuel-powered vehicles to electric and one to CNG. When we converted our first two vehicles to electric, we presented them to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who commended and supported our efforts,” Shaykh-Lukman said.

“Following his recommendation, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology entrusted us with three vehicles for conversion to electric. We have successfully converted two so far.”

Shaykh-Lukman added that the governor also facilitated the transfer of 22 vehicles from Kwara Express to KWASU for conversion, and the team has already started work on them.

“Recently, we completed the conversion of one vehicle to CNG, allowing it to run on both petrol and gas. We are not new to this process; we have been working on it for some time and are already seeing promising results,” he said.

The chief technologist in KWASU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mr. Abdulazeez Akande, who spoke on the environmental and economic benefits of the conversion programme said carbon emissions from vehicles have contributed significantly to ozone layer depletion.

He said, “the rising petrol prices have forced many people to park their vehicles. CNG offers a cost-effective alternative, providing up to 80 percent savings compared to traditional fuel.”

He noted that, while electric vehicles offer even greater environmental benefits, their higher conversion cost currently makes CNG a more accessible option for many.

“One kilogramme of CNG can cover at least 13 kilometres, making it highly economical. Since converting four vehicles that transport university staff to Malete, KWASU has saved approximately N840,000 in just seven weeks,” Akande disclosed.

Akande explained that electric car batteries have a lifespan of eight to 10 years and operate without an engine, underscoring the durability and efficiency of electric vehicles.