The Federal Government of Nigeria 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).
The presentation took place on Sunday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, coinciding with the celebrations of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary.
Leading the government delegation was Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
He was accompanied by key officials, including Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; and Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth Development.
During the ceremony, Minister Edun emphasized that deploying these buses for public transportation would ease the rising cost of commuting, marking a step toward a more affordable and efficient public transport system.
He highlighted that this initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s promise to deliver an accessible and efficient transport system through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi).
The buses were part of the government’s effort to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on ordinary citizens.
Edun explained that the CNG initiative would support the poor and vulnerable, in addition to helping stabilize the economy by addressing inflation.
The handover of these buses also signified the commencement of a broader nationwide rollout, with plans for more than 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles to be distributed in the near future.
The Minister noted that this CNG-driven transportation system aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy, while utilizing the country’s resources to drive industrialization.
He praised the initiative as a significant milestone in President Tinubu’s policy agenda, emphasizing mass transit and clean energy.
Addressing the impact on transportation costs, Edun noted that CNG-powered vehicles could reduce fuel expenses significantly.
Motorists would now spend as little as N15,000 to fill a tank, compared to over N50,000 for petrol-powered vehicles. He added that the initiative would play a key role in reducing inflation, which had recently peaked but was now expected to decline.
Beyond transportation, Edun said the government planned to extend support to the agricultural sector, providing farmers with fertilisers, seeds, and herbicides for the upcoming planting seasons, further aiming to stabilize prices and revive the economy.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and CEO of PCNGi, provided additional details on the progress of the initiative.
Since its launch a year ago, over 125 conversion centres have been established, with significant investments exceeding $175 million. He announced that 12 new mother stations had been opened, with 75 more under construction, and over 34,000 vehicle conversion kits were already in circulation.
Oluwagbemi also noted the expansion of vehicle conversion activities to 53 centres across eight states, with plans to eventually cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In response, TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro, NANS President Lucky Emonefe, and NLC’s Uche Ekwe praised President Tinubu for the initiative. They also called for an increased number of CNG buses to be made available to the general public.
