The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has pushed back against what it describes as a “misleading and unprofessional” report by Premium Times, which questioned the integrity and operations of the government-backed program aimed at transitioning Nigeria to cleaner, cheaper energy alternatives.
In a statement released Monday, PCNGI expressed dismay over the publication’s allegations, calling the article a “regrettable deviation from the principles of ethical journalism” and accusing the news outlet of relying on unnamed sources and speculative reporting to discredit the initiative.
Since its launch, the PCNGI has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda, facilitating over $800 million in investments, creating more than 100,000 jobs, and increasing the number of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles on the road to over 100,000, a fivefold jump in just one year.
PCNGI Responds to Misleading @PremiumTimesng Report
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) expresses deep concern over the unprofessional and misleading report recently published by Premium Times. The article in question represents… pic.twitter.com/tAprt8L4rQ
— PCNGI (@PCNGInitiative) July 17, 2025
Among the program’s most notable achievements is its collaboration with the Dangote Group, which recently deployed 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, 100 virtual pipeline vehicles, and multiple daughter stations across the country.
PCNGI also claims significant progress in building local infrastructure, reporting a rise of over 300 vehicle conversion centres, up from just seven at the start, with an average of 20 new centres opening each week through partnerships with MSMEs.
Despite these gains, the Premium Times report questioned the transparency of the initiative, specifically alleging that the agency had taken down its list of conversion centres to suppress public access to information.
PCNGI clarified that the website is currently undergoing a scheduled update to include a larger and more current list of certified centres, underscoring that the move was part of an effort to improve public access, not restrict it.
The article also spotlighted Mr. David Idakwo, presenting him as a key figure in PCNGI’s operations and questioning the legitimacy of his role due to prior business affiliations. PCNGI, however, strongly refuted this characterisation, clarifying that Mr. Idakwo is a mid-level field officer, hired in late 2024, who holds no executive authority or involvement in high-level decision-making.
“The effort to link Mr. Idakwo’s past private ventures to nepotism within the Initiative is not only misleading but an insult to the rights of everyday Nigerians to pursue legitimate business careers,” the statement read.
While PCNGI acknowledged that scrutiny of public programs is necessary and even welcome, it cautioned against media narratives driven by “sensationalism or hidden agendas.”
The organisation suggested that its recent push to eliminate corruption and ensure the fair distribution of subsidised CNG kits may have ruffled feathers, possibly prompting resistance from those with vested interests.
“We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and national development,” the statement concluded. “What Nigeria needs is journalism that builds, not journalism that destroys.”