By Patrick Idowu
The Tinubu Media Volunteers have hailed the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas initiative as a game-changing move that is transforming transportation, creating jobs and attracting massive private sector investment.
In a statement jointly signed by Chairman Chukwudi Enekwechi and Secretary Shedrach Sunday, the group said the CNG project has already attracted N760 billion in private investment, the equivalent of 491 million dollars, in just one year.
They attributed the development to the government’s bold decision to remove fuel subsidy, which gave birth to the CNG rollout under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“CNG is now reducing the cost of transportation for many Nigerians and is fast becoming a sustainable alternative to petrol,” the group noted.
According to the Programme Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, the scheme has already generated over 84,000 direct and indirect jobs.
From just seven centres a year ago, Nigeria now boasts over 200 CNG conversion centres nationwide, with projections of hitting 10,000 by the first quarter of next year.
The group also applauded the government for distributing 405 buses under an agreement with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to support workers’ mobility.
Describing the programme as practical and visionary, the media group urged authorities to push further, noting that the full potential of the CNG initiative could lift millions out of poverty and accelerate economic growth.
“We look forward to its expansion across 25 sites and 15 states as promised by the managers. If well harnessed, CNG will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” they stated.
