By Idowu Patrick
In a bid to ease transportation challenges for workers and students, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), has distributed 124 CNG-powered buses for mass transit this year.
The buses were allocated to trade unions and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), as part of the federal government’s efforts to promote sustainable transportation and energy solutions.
Speaking on the initiative, the Programme Director and Chief Executive Officer of PCNGI, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, emphasized the success of the scheme in achieving its primary objective of facilitating mass transportation.
“About 124 CNG buses were allocated to trade unions and NANS nationwide.
“In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, and Nasarawa states, 15 high-capacity buses were delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and three transport unions.
“These buses serve routes from Abuja suburbs to Nasarawa (Keffi, Masaka, Nyanya), Niger (Zuba), and FCT (Gwagwalada),” Oluwagbemi disclosed.
Oluwagbemi highlighted additional allocations, including 30 buses for Lagos State, deployed on the VI-Ajah route through the Iru Land Transport Company, and 20 buses for Kogi State.
He also noted significant progress in the establishment of conversion and refueling centers, with over 30 conversion facilities operational across Niger, FCT, and Nasarawa, alongside six new refueling centers set up by NNPC.
On the anticipated 150,000 CNG kits and 50,000 vehicle conversions, Oluwagbemi remarked, “We are confident in exceeding the distribution target, though we may face challenges meeting the actual conversion numbers.”
Oluwagbemi explained the rationale for engaging trade and student unions in the initiative.
“It was crucial for unions to support the President’s agenda on subsidy removal and the transition to sustainable energy.
The provision of CNG buses was part of the agreements reached during negotiations, and PCNGI has fulfilled these commitments.”
He further revealed that unions have effectively deployed the buses to serve the public.
“The Trade Union Congress (TUC), for instance, has empowered its constituent transport union, RTEAN, with the buses, which are now operational.”
On state-level participation, Oluwagbemi lauded the proactive engagement of several state governments.
“The Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, played a pivotal role in launching the initiative in Kwara, which included investments in dispensing and conversion infrastructure in Ilorin and the launch of buses for the state’s mass transit system.”
States like Akwa Ibom, Kogi, Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Delta, and Benue are also actively engaging with PCNGI, making substantial progress in adopting CNG for transportation.
The initiative underscores the federal government’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions and improved public transportation infrastructure.
