The federal government of Nigeria said it has concluded plans to deploy 11,500 gas powered buses across the country from next week, as part of measures to ease current transportation challenges.
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative ( PCNGI), disclosed this while delivering two CNG buses at the State House.
PCNGI project director, Micheal Oluwagbemi said state governments have already indicated investment interest in the CNG buses, stating that Rivers state government has already acquired some to ease the transportation challenges of the state.
Speaking on the cost of conversion, Oluwagbemi, revealed that the cost varies with the type and vehicle model, but assured that the government was working on reducing costs per vehicle.
2,322 Gas-Powered Made-in-Nigeria Buses, Inaugurated
” The President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, the committee will incentivise the cost for the Nigerian populace.
The Project coordinator assured that Nigerians will be able to achieve conversion at a lower cost.
“The current cost of conversion varies from the model and type of vehicle but the President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, we will look into that cost by helping and incentivising Nigerians,” Oluwagbemi added.
He also disclosed that the federal government has already ordered 55,000 conversion kits as part of the immediate palliative, to ease conversion
The committee said: “In the next few weeks, starting from Lagos, the PCNGI will establish the roll out of more conversion centers to enable 55,000 conversions in the next 6 months under the palliative program.”
“In addition to this, over 11,500 CNG fueled vehicles will be rolled out by partnership with private sector, cooperative, state and union operated mass transit operators in the same period.”
Managing Director of OMAA Motors, Chinedu Oguegbu commended the government for the initiative, adding that “asides connecting to the energy transition, we’re also now deepening industrialization by patronizing made in Nigeria vehicles.
” This is going to go beyond the natural gas value-chain, this is going to create thousands of jobs for the youths and not just like basic tech, what we’re talking about natural gas vehicles, as we progress in Nigeria and after coming up, the technology that we’ll develop here, the talents that we’ll build here, we’ll be able to use this and export to other African countries that have similar initiatives.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Presidential CNG Initiative Steering Committee, represented by Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive Officer of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authourity (NMDPRA), said the handover of CNG buses to the State House, commemorate” a pivotal step in our journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and economically sound future.
He noted that the buses are symbol of a new beginning, a journey towards the future, where the power of tomorrow starts today. Let this be a beacon for our country, Nigeria, and an inspiration to the world.
