Over 120,000 vehicles converted to CNG — Tinubu reveals
Pesident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that his administration has converted more than 120,000 vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of efforts to develop a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria.
Tinubu disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the government has deliberately invested in CNG transportation infrastructure over the last three years.
According to him, “Over the last three years, my administration has deliberately invested in building a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria. Today, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted; we have over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country, and these figures are increasing daily.”
The President revealed that Nigeria currently has more than 400 certified CNG conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country.
He went on further to list Edo, Kano, Delta, Kwara, Lagos and Akwa Ibom among states expanding CNG-supported transportation initiatives.
He urged all states to sustain the momentum ahead of October 1, stressing that the objective was to ensure that more Nigerians benefit from lower transportation costs.
He said, “At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested.”
“We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home. It is reassuring to see the movement spreading. Edo already has 50 CNG buses in active service. Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles while rapidly expanding its conversion and refuelling network. Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.”
“I encourage every state to maintain the momentum towards October 1. Work with transport unions and commercial operators. Support conversion and fleet deployment. Facilitate the infrastructure required. Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares.”
“The Federal Government will continue to support the scaling of CNG infrastructure and access, expand conversion capacity, and create the enabling environment for states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate.”
The President acknowledged the huge gas resources that Nigeria possesses.
He noted that it now behoves on the governmemt and private sector to move faster and scale it so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.
He added that the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), state governments and other stakeholders were working to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions and put the necessary arrangements in place.
Tinubu cited existing examples of reduced fares linked to CNG and electric-powered transportation across the country.
He also stressed that CNG-powered and electric public transport services in Borno are moving commuters for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.
He also revealed that 100 CNG-powered buses in Kaduna provided free transportation on major routes and carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than N3.5 billion in transport costs.