ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state government is set to commission Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses procured by the government as part of its long-term plans to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The Niger state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Binta Mamman made this known when she briefed journalists on the activities lined up to mark the first anniversary of the state governor, Mohammed Bago on Monday in Minna.
This online platform recalls that in September 2023, the Niger state government signed an agreement with four contractors for the procurement of 200 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) driven buses.
Speaking while presiding over the signing of the agreement in Minna, the Niger state governor, Mohammed Bago recalled that the state government had promised to provide free transportation to school children while also running the buses at a discount to civil servants.
Bago had announced that the state government will procure an additional 300 CNG buses in 2024 to make it 500.
Also speaking during the event, the Niger State Commissioner the Transport, Hadiza Kuta said that the contractors have been given 12 weeks to conclude the delivery of the buses.
This online platform also recalls that the federal government has set a goal of having at least one million natural gas-propelled vehicles on Nigerian roads by 2027.
This target is expected to greatly impact Nigeria’s energy transition plan.
Furthermore, in April, the Federal Government through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative(P-CNGi) announced that it has attracted a $50 million deal for the conversion of commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“We are working with our partners in the mass transit sector, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), to determine modalities for providing the equipment and incentive,” the P-CNGi Programme Director/Chief Executive, Mr Michael Oluwagbemi said.
He said the first phase of the initiative would roll out 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites across 18 states in Nigeria before the end of 2024.
“We are very well on track to meet all our objectives this year with respect to conversion centres, we are beginning to see the private sector jump in; as at Friday 85, conversion centre bidders were about to be completed.
“We expect 15 more to get started before the end of May; we will hit 100 targets before the end of 2024. The private sector leads and the government supports, it is definitely a good news for Nigeria.
“CNG is much safer in natural condition than PMS and Diesel, with bullet-proof container and high auto ignition temperature, almost one thousand degrees safer in natural condition than petrol,” he said.
