NBTE organises workshop to expand NOS, includes LPG and LNG

By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has organized a three-day workshop to review the National Occupational Standards (NOS) on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) with a view to expanding its scope to include Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The workshop, held at the NBTE Centre of Excellence (CoE), attracted participants from both industry and academic institutions.


Declaring the workshop open, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, expressed concern over the limited availability of CNG, noting that long queues at filling stations remain a major setback. He emphasized that while CNG is essential, LPG presents a more viable alternative due to its wide availability and enhanced safety profile, owing to the chemical nature of its molecules.


Prof. Bugaje announced that the Board is exploring the development of skills for the underground installation of LPG storage systems and the technical requirements for reticulation. He further disclosed that NBTE is already piloting the use of LPG-powered vehicles, with a prototype vehicle owned by a staff member, Engr. Bashir Datti, currently in operation. “Imagine the safety and efficiency of a vehicle running on a 20-bar LPG cylinder—it’s safer and more accessible,” he stated.


Speaking on behalf of the Director of Curriculum Development at NBTE, Hajiya Zainab Suleiman highlighted the growing importance of LPG in Nigeria’s energy landscape. She urged participants to contribute meaningfully to the development of viable occupational standards for skills training in the sector.
Chairman of the workshop review committee, Professor M.M. Ibrahim, explained that the initial focus was on CNG. However, the realities of energy usage and accessibility led to the inclusion of LPG and LNG. “In Nigeria, it is rare to find a household, even in the most rural areas, not using LPG. This makes LPG and LNG more practical options for our energy needs,” he said.


Prof. Ibrahim further explained that the LPG blend used in Nigeria—70% butane and 30% propane—is safer than that used in neighbouring Niger Republic, where the ratios differ. He added that there are plans to pilot a study on the use of LPG in agriculture, noting its potential not just for cooking and electricity generation, but also for industrial applications. “The demand for skilled manpower in this sector is urgent,” he said.


The workshop is expected to culminate in the development of updated National Occupational Standards that will reflect the evolving energy landscape and prepare the Nigerian workforce for emerging opportunities in the gas sector.

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