The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has facilitated over $800 million in private and public investments, created more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, and significantly accelerated the adoption of cleaner, cheaper energy alternatives since its launch.
Matilda Johnson, Brand & Corporate Communications Manager of PCNGI, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, in response to recent Media reports, also revealed that over 100,000 CNG vehicles are operational across Nigeria -a fivefold increase in just one year.
According to her, the recent landmark deployment by Dangote Group, featuring 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, 100 virtual pipeline vehicles, and multiple daughter stations, is just one high-profile testament to the Initiative’s impact.
Furthermore, she said that the PCNGI’s partnership with local Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has led to the rise of over 300 conversion centers, from just 7 at inception, with an average of 20 new centers opening weekly.
She therefore, wonders why the Media, especially, Premium Times, has chosen to ignore these tangible outcomes, instead engaging in speculative reporting backed by unnamed sources and apparent personal agendas.
Matilda Johnson said that Premium Times in its most recent article falsely claimed that PCNGI pulled the list of approved conversion centers from its website to conceal information. Explaining that in truth, the website was undergoing scheduled updates to reflect a larger, more inclusive list of newly approved conversion centers, in line with PCNGI’s transparency standards.
She said the publication also irresponsibly misrepresents the role and identity of one Mr. David Idakwo, portraying him as a senior decision-maker at PCNGI.
“This is patently false. Mr. Idakwo, a mid-level field officer employed in late 2024, holds no executive role within the organization and is not involved in strategic decision-making. Efforts to link his past private enterprise affiliations to allegations of nepotism are not only misleading but an affront to the right of every Nigerian to legitimate business pursuits,” she said.
The Brand & Corporate Communications Manager said, “At PCNGI, we remain unwavering in our commitment to transparency, public accountability, and national development. Our ongoing efforts to ensure proper distribution of government-subsidized kits and enforce compliance have inevitably unsettled those seeking to benefit from corruption or sabotage. We view this, perhaps, as the root of Premium Times’ sustained hostility.
“We call on Premium Times to return to the core ethics of journalism in fairness, objectivity, and factual accuracy. Constructive criticism is welcome, but deliberate distortion in the service of sensationalism or hidden agendas only undermines national progress. Nigeria deserves journalism that builds, not journalism that destroys,” she stated in the statement.
