The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has hosted a three-day workshop aimed at reviewing the National Occupational Standards (NOS) on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and expanding them to cover Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The event took place at the NBTE Centre of Excellence (CoE), drawing experts from industries and academic institutions.
Declaring the event open, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, addressed the challenges of CNG accessibility. “Long queues at CNG filling stations remain a major setback,” he noted. He pointed out that while CNG remains essential, LPG is a more practical alternative because of its greater availability and improved safety features.
“LPG is safer due to the chemical nature of its molecules, and its wider availability makes it a better solution in the Nigerian context,” Prof. Bugaje said. He also revealed that NBTE is developing skills for the underground installation of LPG storage systems and the technical requirements for effective gas reticulation.
A significant highlight of the workshop was the unveiling of an LPG-powered prototype vehicle owned by NBTE staff member Engr. Bashir Datti. “Imagine the safety and efficiency of a vehicle running on a 20-bar LPG cylinder—it’s safer and more accessible,” Prof. Bugaje added.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of Curriculum Development, Hajiya Zainab Suleiman emphasized the growing role of LPG in Nigeria’s energy sector. “We must contribute to developing relevant skills that match the evolving energy landscape,” she urged the participants.
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Professor M.M. Ibrahim, chairman of the workshop review committee, explained the reason for expanding the scope of the standards. “Our original focus was CNG, but based on Nigeria’s energy realities, LPG and LNG had to be included. It is rare to find a household, even in rural areas, not using LPG,” he explained.