The Federal Government of Nigeria has donated over 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The gesture, aimed at improving commuter services, was announced on Sunday, September 29, 2024by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.
The handover took place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations. The event was attended by key government officials, including the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other ministers, demonstrating the government’s commitment to reducing transportation costs and enhancing the public transit system.
Wale Edun, during the event, highlighted that this donation is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation following the removal of fuel subsidies.
He emphasized that this initiative, part of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi), will help alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians, especially workers and students.
The distribution of these CNG buses is just the beginning, as the government plans to roll out over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the initial phase. Edun stressed that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to clean energy and industrialization, contributing to long-term economic stability while reducing fuel costs significantly.
Representatives from the TUC, NLC, and NANS commended the Federal Government for the buses, with NANS President Lucky Emonefe noting that the initiative would significantly ease the economic burden on Nigerian workers. They also called for more buses to be made available to further expand the benefits to the publi
The government, through the PCNGi, has also launched several initiatives to promote CNG adoption including an agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to convert vehicles to CNG, aiming to reduce transportation fares by 30-40%. The initiative will extend to police vehicles and public mass transit systems in states like Kogi and Ekiti in the coming weeks.
With over $175 million invested in the sector, the PCNGi has established 125 CNG conversion centers and aims to expand further. The government believes these efforts will lead to more affordable transportation and contribute to reducing inflation across the country.