Leadership reports that Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete is planning to set up a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion facility in Ilorin, aiming to enhance clean energy initiatives in the state.

According to the university's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Lukman, the establishment of this CNG site aligns with KWASU's commitment to lowering carbon emissions and fostering an environmentally friendly, sustainable future.

“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.

“Following the governor's 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.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Engineering department of the university has already converted four vehicles from fossil fuel to CNG and was working on 22 other vehicles.

The university has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies—Zhejiang Sinray Electronics Company and Jiaxing Keyuan Electronics Company Limited—for the supply of CNG conversion kits.

The vice chancellor of the university disclosed this while showcasing vehicles converted from fossil fuel to CNG and hybrid models at the university's Business School in Ilorin.

He explained that partnering with reputable companies for the supply of CNG conversion kits was a proactive step to ensure quality and avoid substandard products that could pose safety risks.

He added that the university aims to carry out the conversions on a large scale to make the initiative accessible to more people.

The chief technologist at 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.