Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) has unveiled seven centres where commercial transporters can convert their vehicles to CNG-powered vehicles in Ekiti.
Gatekeepers News reports that Program Director of P-CNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi handed over the 15 CNG-powered buses to government in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital during the official unveiling of the centres at the weekend,
While speaking, the director urged commercial transporters in the state to visit the centers to convert their vehicle free of charge.
He noted that the CNG initiative is cheaper, more convenient, and safer compared to petrol, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to energize the economy through the initiative which he said would create jobs and enhance sustainable development.
Oluwagbemi revealed that the administration is targeting one million vehicle conversions to CNG by 2027, saying that no fewer than 125 centres have been opened across the country.
He listed the new centres in Ekiti state to include, Femoyo centres, Beijing Universal Limited, ABJ oil and gas, Bovas Company, and NADDC training center in the state capital.
The director said that the 15 buses donated would be deployed for inter and intra-state transportation towards achieving about 40 percent reduction in the transportation cost and ultimately reduced hike in food items.
He said, “The government of President Bola Tinubu through the presidential CNG initiative is committed to ensuring they(transporters) use this for their vehicles because it is cheaper, cleaner and more importantly it is safer and more reliable.”
” This is a compressed natural gas, it is not the same you use in your kitchen to cook. It is lighter and stored in a bulletproof container. It is also the fact it is produced in Nigeria and what the president said is that instead of us to continue to import poverty and export jobs. He said will need to look inward and use what God has given us.”
” It is about job creation, it is about reducing the cost of transportation and ensuring economic development by moving away from subsidy payment where we were making the few richer.”
” This is a more sensible and reliable path for Nigeria in terms of our energy sector, and that is what the president is doing with this initiative.”
The state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Mobolaji Aluko applauded federal government for the initiative.
The Governor said the state would support the programme towards ensuring that more vehicle owners embrace the CNG conversion.
He explained that the CNG conversion initiative would help generate employment opportunities and economic development in line with his shared prosperity agenda for the state.
