By Our Correspondent
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), has deployed 160 compressed natural gas (CNG), buses to transport unions and state-affiliated mass transit companies as part of measures to mitigate the high cost of transportation caused by fuel subsidy removal.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and CEO of P-CNGi, disclosed this on Sunday during an interview in Abuja.
According to him, 75 buses have been allocated to the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), through the Ministry of Transportation.
Additionally, 85 buses were distributed to state-owned mass transit companies in Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The deployment of these buses is already yielding results. For instance, Oyo’s Pacesetters Transport Company reduced fares on the Lagos-Ibadan route from N8,000 to N3,200 during the yuletide,” Oluwagbemi said.
Residents in the FCT have also benefited, initially enjoying 40 days of free rides and now receiving a 30% discount on fares.
The initiative includes a monitoring system to ensure effective implementation and requires passengers to use specific parks managed by participating unions.
This initiative, part of President Bola Tinubu’s palliative measures, aims to harness natural gas to lower transportation costs and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
Oluwagbemi noted that future efforts will focus on the Lagos-Abuja route and expanding partnerships with state governments to bridge transport gaps nationwide.
