Improving Sustainable Urban Development Through Energy Transition In Nigeria

The ongoing increase in oil price compels the search for cost-efficient energy alternatives. The peaking of petroleum oil currently selling at about $130 per barrel and the dependence of risky radioactive power stations on inefficient spending of public funds is nearly ubiquitous wherever conventional energy technology is being applied. Persistent increase in the price of petroleum (oil) is rattling in most economies including the advanced and developing ones. In Nigeria, one of the largest oil exporting nations and a frontline Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member, increase in the pump price of oil has historically led to serious social, economic and environmental stress. Forecast showing future explosion of population as well as rapid growth in demand for energy (especially fuel for driving public urban transportation fleet) suggests that new alternatives to current failures in fuelling public transportation must be identified and adopted to prevent future catastrophic consequences (social upheavals and economic disruptions). The need to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel is one of the policy goals that should be considered a priority, to avoid current and future quagmire in the energy and socio-economic development management programming. This paper explores the problems and prospects of converting public urban transportation to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) —a fuel type regarded as supportive of urban air quality improvement.