The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) has said the Federal Government has introduced a transport palliative to cushion the burden of high transportation costs on university students.
The Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this on Thursday during an awareness campaign on the initiative at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Ahmed, who was represented by the Manager, Investor Relations, Pi-CNG & EV, Louisa Afu, said the initiative, known as Compressed Natural Gas – Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation (CNG-SPROUT), was designed to provide affordable and eco-friendly transportation for students.
He said the initiative was in line with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu to promote cleaner and more affordable mobility across the country.
“We are not just here to talk about clean mobility but, most importantly, to bring affordable transportation closer to you.
“Transportation is an important part of everyday life for students and staff of universities, and when the cost of transportation is high, it affects everyone.
“This is one of the reasons why Project SPROUT was developed, in alignment with Mr President’s mandate,” he said.
Ahmed said the project was a university-focused clean and affordable mobility programme being implemented through a partnership involving FEMADEC Energy, MDGIF and Pi-CNG & EV.
He said the programme would provide affordable transportation solutions through the establishment of CNG refuelling stations, vehicle conversion centres and the phased deployment of CNG-powered buses and tricycles to participating institutions.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at making transportation within and around university campuses more accessible and affordable.
He added that another component of the project was to incorporate CNG conversion training into the university curriculum to equip students with relevant technical skills.
Earlier, the Dean of Student Affairs, BUK, Prof. Mukhtar Ibrahim-Bunza, commended the Federal Government for introducing the initiative.
Ibrahim-Bunza said the programme would provide much-needed relief to students by reducing the burden of transportation costs.
He assured that the university would judiciously utilise the facilities provided under the initiative.