The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) has launched a Transport Fare Drop Programme, starting in Abuja on Friday. This programme, designed to reduce transport costs, aims to encourage the transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for public transportation.
The PCNGi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), covering the Abuja to Itakpe Station—Ajaokuta Train Station—Adavi route. This MOU will see fleet vehicles converted to CNG in exchange for a 30-40% fare reduction.
“This programme will encourage NURTW members in Abuja to convert their vehicles to CNG in exchange for a fare reduction,” said Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday.
The initiative is part of the PCNGi’s efforts to increase the use of Compressed Natural Gas as a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fuel.
Onanuga also highlighted the programme’s upcoming milestones, quoting PCNGi’s Programme Director, Michael Oluwagbemi. On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the PCNGi will expand its commercial incentive programme to 38 centres across Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, and Edo states.
Furthermore, on September 30, the PCNGi will sign an agreement with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to operationalize the Nigerian Police CNG Conversion Programme and train police cadets to manage strategic conversion centres being established by the NPTF.
“This initiative will help train the police cadets to manage strategic conversion centres established by the NPTF,” said Oluwagbemi.
To celebrate Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary on October 1, 2024, the PCNGi will also launch the CNG Tricycle Empowerment Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth. This program aims to provide over 2,000 young Nigerians with the opportunity to own and operate CNG-powered tricycles.
On October 2, the PCNGi will launch the Kogi State Conversion Incentive Programme and hand over CNG buses to the state’s mass transit entity for interstate routes to Abuja. Additionally, three new CNG conversion sites will be inaugurated in the state.
