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.

Recently, the peaking of Russia's oil, as publicised on 15 April 2008, resulted in a rapid increase in the price per barrel of oil to $114. The sharp rise in the cost of oil was attributed to the shock of learning that the oil deposits in what has been the world's second largest oil producer, is rapidly drying up. Shortly afterwards, the price per barrel of oil rose to an unprecedented, nearly $147. Since the Noble Laureate and Physicist, Svante Arrhenius, published the influence of carbonic acid on the triggering of global warming about the increase in the ground or surface temperature in 1896 (i.e., 112 years ago), efforts to contain the scourge of climate change has been rather negligible. The status quo for energy supply and use has reveled in dubiously and spuriously disclaiming the reality of climate change for over one century. There have been funded campaigns challenging the scientific integrity of climate change as Al Gore showed in his celebrated movie, The Inconvenient Truth. Currently, the reality of climate change is being acknowledged by most, perhaps including those who doubted it in the yesteryears. For example, a report, "WHO Sends Climate Change Distress Call", through a speech to mark the 2008 World Health Day (on the 7^th day of April), the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Director-General, Margaret Chan was quoted as saying: "While the reality of climate change can no longer be doubted, the magnitude of (its) consequences, and most especially for health, can still be reduced"… Irrespective of its variability, estimates of the health consequences of global warming (climate change) have been alarming and high. The UNDP forecast in November 2007 states that climate change-induced diseases will afflict 400 million Sub-Saharan Africans while 3.5 million other (Sub-Saharan Africans) have been killed annually by drought-related diseases. Diseases resulting from general extreme weather events (storms, floods, droughts, hurricanes and so forth) have been claiming more lives in the region and elsewhere.

Recently, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, stated that in order to resolve the crises of energy and climate change, which pose serious implications for peace and security, "we must do more to use and develop renewable energy sources." Greater energy efficiency is also vital. So are cleaner energy technologies including advanced fossil fuels and renewable energy technologies which can create jobs, boost industrial development, reduce air pollution and help to mitigate greenhouse gas emission. This is a matter of urgency that requires sustained, concerted and high-level attention. It has a broad impact not only on the environment but also on economic and social development, and needs to be considered in the context of sustainable development. It should be a concern to all countries, rich or poor. Owing to myriads of socio-economic and environmental problems that are confronting the country, Nigeria presents a very good example that nations need to take heed of the foregoing advice offered by the United Nations Secretary-General.

Governance And Public Policy Journal, Urban Development, Economic Disruptions, Socio-Economic Development, Conventional Energy Technologies, Global Warming, Industrial Development, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Compressed Natural Gas, Economic Sectors, Renewable Energy Technologies, National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS, Agricultural Sectors.