The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has identified a substandard Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinder as the cause of a recent explosion at a NIPCO filling station in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during vehicle refueling, leaving three individuals with severe injuries, including a motorist who sustained eye damage.
The explosion has raised concerns about the quality of CNG equipment and safety measures at refueling stations across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Saturday, SON explained that preliminary investigations revealed the cylinder used to convert the vehicle did not meet the required standards approved by the organization for CNG systems.
The organization issued a stern warning to Nigerians, urging them to avoid the use of uncertified and substandard CNG cylinders, as these pose significant risks.
“The organization commiserates with those affected by the incident. It is also pertinent to note that preliminary investigations revealed that the cylinder used to convert the vehicle does not comply with the CNG standards approved by the organization,” SON stated.
The incident has heightened concerns among Nigerians, many of whom are considering converting their vehicles to CNG following the recent hike in petrol prices.
However, SON reassured the public that it has strong regulatory measures in place to ensure all CNG equipment and conversion kits conform to approved standards before being certified for use.
SON emphasized its collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives on CNG and other government agencies to finalize the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS).