A list of over 300 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres has vanished from the website of Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PICNG), days after Premium Times published an investigation alleging insider corruption and black-market diversion.
A list of over 300 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres has vanished from the website of Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PICNG), days after Premium Times published an investigation alleging insider corruption and black-market diversion. The initiative, funded with over N45 billion, is reportedly undermined by inflated costs and a conflict of interest involving PICNG’s Northern Coordinator, David Idakwo, who owns a company benefiting from subsidised CNG kits. “We are calling for the restoration of the data and an independent audit of the listed conversion centres,” an insider said, adding some centres “may exist only on paper.” Although the list previously showcased government transparency, it was removed after Premium Times revealed Idakwo’s firm, Hi-Grade Energies Ltd, was formed 10 days post-PICNG approval. Despite public concern, the agency remains silent. A PICNG agent claimed the site was “down,” but web experts say, “They can’t take it down to update it.”