FG Delivers 64 CNG Buses to Labour Unions, NANS. The handover ceremony took place on Sunday at Abuja’s State House Conference Centre, coinciding with Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations.
The beneficiaries of this initiative include the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, led the government delegation at the event. He emphasized the significance of this distribution, stating, “Today marks another critical milestone in the policies of President Tinubu. It is a transition to cleaner fuel. It is for Nigerians. The emphasis is on mass transit.”
The minister highlighted the economic benefits of the CNG initiative, noting that “the fuel cost for CNG-powered vehicles is about one-third of the fuel for petrol-powered vehicles.”
This translates to substantial savings for motorists, who can now pay as low as N15,000 to fill a tank instead of N50,000 or more.
Edun also addressed the broader economic implications, saying, “We’ve had an initial spike in inflation, now it has peaked, and it is coming down. Mr President and the whole team are determined to ensure that we keep inflation coming down, and this is one of the major ways.”
The Explainer learned that the handover of these 64 buses marks just the beginning of a larger rollout. The government plans to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the first phase of this initiative, aligning with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy and leveraging its natural resources for industrialization.
Representatives from the beneficiary organizations expressed their gratitude and optimism about the initiative. Nuhu Toro, Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC, thanked the president for implementing the N70,000 new national minimum wage, calling it “a significant step in alleviating the economic burden of Nigerian workers.”
NANS President Lucky Emonefe praised the government’s commitment to education and student welfare, citing the provision of a student loan scheme for higher education.
He stated, “Nigerian students are happy to be celebrating the 64th anniversary of independence. We are not only happy with the CNG buses; we believe that the current President loves the welfare of students and has shown his commitment to this.”
The NLC representative emphasized that the full benefits of the CNG buses would become more apparent once more are deployed across the country.
He noted, “If we get more buses, the effect will translate immediately to Nigerians. If people start entering these buses, they will publicise it in the public and their neighbourhood.”
Michael Oluwagbemi, the Programme Director/Chief Executive of PCNGi, provided insights into the progress of the CNG initiative.
He reported that over 125 conversion centres have been established in the past year, with investments in the sector exceeding $175 million. Additionally, 12 new mother stations have been commissioned, with 75 more under construction.
Oluwagbemi also highlighted the ongoing efforts in technician training and vehicle conversions. Currently, 40 new technicians are being trained weekly, and over 34,000 conversion kits have been ordered. Vehicle conversions are taking place at 53 centres across eight states, with plans to expand to all 36 states and the FCT.
