Gas-Powered Keke Maruwa: Is The Problem The Fuel Or How We Use It?

Gas-Powered Keke Maruwa: Is The Problem The Fuel Or How We Use It?

Last Christmas, while doing what most of us adults do during the festive season, moving around markets, shopping, and trying to beat traffic, I noticed something that stopped me in my tracks. A Keke Maruwa running on AutoGas (LPG).

Now, in Ikorodu, where I live, this isn’t exactly common. So, at first, I was impressed. It felt like a glimpse into the future—cleaner fuel, lower running costs, and some level of innovation. But that feeling didn’t last long. The gas cylinder was placed in the front seat of the tricycle. The driver was parked right beside a suya seller, while another trader nearby was burning waste. My excitement quickly turned into anxiety. The apprehension I felt was honestly outrageous.

I walked up to the rider and asked if he was aware of the safety risks. He shrugged. No concern. No explanation. Just indifference. Out of curiosity, I spoke to six other tricycle riders in the area. Every single one of them said the same thing: using gas is too risky. Another three admitted they simply didn’t have enough information to even form an opinion. Interestingly, the one rider actually using a gas-powered tricycle said he adopted it for one reason: it made economic sense.

That encounter stayed with me. So, I decided to ask a bigger question.

What Do People Really Think About CNG and AutoGas for Keke Maruwa?

I ran a poll across two WhatsApp channels, asking a simple question:

Do you think CNG or AutoGas (LPG) is safe for Nigerian tricycles (Keke Maruwa)?

The responses were eye-opening.

Out of 122 total responses:

A clear majority believe gas-powered tricycles can be safe, if properly converted and regulated

A significant number agree it can work, but worry that safety enforcement in Nigeria is weak

Only a small minority believe the technology is outright too risky

Very few respondents admitted they simply need more information

In simple terms, most people are not afraid of CNG or AutoGas. They are afraid of how we use it in Nigeria.

The Real Issue: It’s Not the Fuel

CNG and AutoGas are not experimental fuels. They are used safely in public transport systems across Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa. The technology itself is not the problem.

The real issues are:

Poor or non-existent conversion standards

Uncertified technicians and unsafe installations

Gas cylinders are placed in dangerous positions

No clear inspection culture

Weak enforcement and monitoring

When you see a gas cylinder in the front seat of a tricycle, parked next to open flames, fear is not irrational, it’s logical.

Why Some Riders Still Choose Gas

Despite these concerns, one thing is clear: economics is driving adoption.

For many tricycle riders, petrol has become unpredictable and expensive. Gas, on the other hand, is cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient in the long run. Some riders are not choosing CNG or LPG because they feel safe; they’re choosing it because they need to survive. And that should worry us. When people adopt new technology purely out of economic pressure, without safety education or regulation, accidents become a matter of when, not if.

What Needs to Change

If Nigeria is serious about gas-powered transport, especially for informal public transport like Keke Maruwa, then a few things must happen:

Clear national standards for tricycle conversion

Certified conversion centres and approved kits

Proper cylinder placement and vehicle design

Routine safety inspections

Strong public awareness and rider education

Without these, we risk turning a good energy transition idea into a public safety problem.

That Christmas encounter taught me something important. Nigerians are not resistant to change. We are cautious, and rightly so. The poll confirms it: people believe CNG and AutoGas can work for Keke Maruwa, but only if done properly. Until safety becomes non-negotiable, fear and resistance will remain.

So the question is no longer “Is gas safe for Keke Maruwa?”

The real question is: “Are we ready to use it responsibly?”

And right now, the answer is still uncertain.

• Lpg
• autogas
• cng
• nigeria
• Keke maruwa
• lpg vehicles