FG Begins Distribution of 500 CNG Buses, EVs, Dole Out 64 to NLC, TUC, NANS
The Federal Government of Nigeria has given out 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The buses according to the government will be deployed to ferry workers to and from work as a way of cushioning the effect of high cost of transportation arrisising from the astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products in the country.
The buses were handed over to the benefiting organisations at a brief ceremony at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Sunday.
The event was part of activities lined up to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.
The event which attracted senior government officials was led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun assisted by his colleague, the minister of Information and National Orientation, National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
Mr. Edun announced that the 64 buses were symbolic as the government has marshalled out plans to distribute 500 CNG busses and 100 electric vehicles as part of the initial take-off of a robust public transport system that will positively impact the Nigerian economy and make life easier for the average Nigerian.
The minister noted that the CNG project is also part of the government’s plan to deploy cleaner energy and more environmentally friendly and sustainable transport system in the country that can drive industrialization and effective utilize Nigeria’s enormous energy resources.
He said:
“Today marks another critical milestone in the policies of President Tinubu. It is a transition to cleaner fuel. It is for Nigerians. The emphasis is on mass transit. The minister said there is an emphasis on intervening on the side of workers so that they have cheaper transport to cope with rising prices
“We’ve had an initial spike in inflation, now it has peaked, and it is coming down. Mr President and the whole team are determined to ensure that we keep inflation coming down, and this is one of the major ways.”
Highlighting some of the immediate benefits of the CNG deployment over normal fuel, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy said that the fuel cost for CNG-powered vehicles is about one-third of the fuel for petrol-powered vehicles.
According to him, motorists can now pay as low as N15,000 to fill a tank instead of N50,000 or more.
“Today, it is CNG. Tomorrow, it will be helping farmers to cope with the remainder of the wet season planting and then the dry season planting, starting from November, with fertiliser, inputs, seeds, and herbicides.
“this is all to get prices down and get the economy moving again.” Mr. Edun reiterated.
Responding to the government’s gesture, the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC, Nuhu Toro; NANS President, Lucky Emonefe; and the Head of International Desk, NLC, Uche Ekwe, thanked the federal government and also commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative
The TUC representative also took the opportunity to applaud President Tinubu for the commencement of the implementation of the new national minimum wage, he said that, “This move is a significant step in alleviating the economic burden of Nigerian workers.
On his part, NANS representative said that “Nigerian students are happy to be celebrating the 64th anniversary of independence. We are not only happy with the CNG buses; we believe that the current President loves the welfare of students and has shown his commitment to this.”
On the part of the NLC, they urged the government to ensure speedy deployment of the CNG buses so that the benefit will trickle down to Nigerian workers across the country.
“If we get more buses, the effect will translate immediately to Nigerians. If people start entering these buses, they will publicise it in the public and their neighbourhood,” Mr. Ekwe requested.
Speaking on the preparedness of the government to ensure maximum utilization of the CNG programme, the Programme Director/Chief Executive of PCNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi, announced that Nigeria now has 125 conversion centres across the country as against seven centre one year ago.
According to Oluwagbemi, there has been over $175 million investment in the sector in just one years. He announced that more conversion centres are currently being built in many parts of Nigeria, while experts are training 40 new technicians on weekly basis. He promised that conversion centres will eventually be established in every state of the federation.