The Federal Government has officially handed over 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
This initiative aims to significantly reduce transportation costs and improve the efficiency of public transport across the nation.
The handover ceremony took place on Sunday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, coinciding with Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations.
The government delegation was led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and included other key ministers.
Edun emphasized that this distribution fulfills President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable transportation options following the removal of fuel subsidies under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi). He highlighted that the initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on vulnerable populations while supporting macroeconomic reforms to stabilize the economy.
The symbolic handover marks the beginning of a broader rollout plan, which includes distributing over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the initial phase.
Edun noted that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy and harnessing its resources for industrialization.
He stated, “Today marks another critical milestone in President Tinubu’s policies. It is a transition to cleaner fuel for Nigerians, focusing on mass transit and providing workers with affordable transport in light of rising prices.”
The initiative is also expected to impact inflation positively, with Edun indicating that the fuel cost for CNG vehicles is about one-third of that for petrol-powered vehicles. Motorists can fill a tank for as low as N15,000 compared to N50,000 or more for petrol.
Trade union leaders, including TUC Secretary-General Comrade Nuhu Toro and NANS President Comrade Lucky Emonefe, praised the initiative and urged for more CNG buses to be made available to the public.
They acknowledged the government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of workers and students, with Emonefe highlighting the provision of a student loan scheme for higher education.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director of PCNGi, reported that over 125 conversion centres have been established in the past year, with significant investment in the sector exceeding $175 million.
He noted ongoing training initiatives for technicians and plans to expand conversion centres to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
This initiative is seen as a vital step towards improving public transport and supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery.
