The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) says it has deployed 160 CNG buses through its transport union partners and sub-nationals to offset the impact of increased transport costs caused by the loss of fuel subsidies.
According to Oluwagbemi, 75 buses have already been deployed to the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) via the Ministry of Transportation. He stated that of the buses assigned to the unions, five were designated for intra-state travel and 20 for inter-state travel.
“Last year, during the yuletide we deployed 160 CNG buses to our union partners, through the Ministry of Transportation, namely – NURTW, RTEAN and NARTO.”We deployed 75 buses through transport unions and another 85 buses, totalling 160 buses, to state government-affiliated mass transit firms in Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, and the FCT, among others.
All of these transport businesses linked with the state government received varying quantities of buses, with some receiving 15, 20, 25, and 30 buses and beginning operations.In the case of Pacesetters Transport Company, Oyo, for example, we deployed 15 buses, and during the holiday season from Lagos to Ibadan, they were able to reduce the cost to N3,200 on a route that would typically cost N8,000.
“People who used patrol buses also received a discount because there was pressure on the cost of transportation within the parks that they loaded, lowering the price to N6,000. “These are some of the advantages that we are starting to observe from the deployment of CNG vehicles throughout Nigeria.
“This year, we intend to focus and concentrate on deployment between Lagos and Abuja, as well as work with sub-nationals to fill the gaps across Nigeria,” he said. He stated that 15 of the buses were dispatched intrastate and 60 were deployed interstate. According to Oluwagbemi, all buses deployed to other states have begun operating at a 50% discount, with an excellent monitoring system.
He stated that the administration had provided FCT residents with 40 days of free bus rides as part of their benefits. According to the P-CNGi CEO, FCT residents are currently receiving a 30% discount on any ride following the expiration of the free trip. According to him, in order to take advantage of this perk, Nigerians must board buses at certain union-operated parks and obtain a card that monitors the number of passengers on board.
“Ultimately, this is the journey; it starts by us recognising that we should utilise our God’s given resources, which is natural gas, to power this economy and make sure we reduce the cost of transport and enhance the quality of lives of Nigerians.”
The P-CNGi is a component of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s palliative intervention aimed at bringing relief to the populace as a result of the temporary sufferings caused by the elimination of fuel subsidies.
