To commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary, the federal government has transferred 64 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The initiative, part of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGI), aims to reduce transportation costs and enhance the efficiency of the public transport system.
During the handover ceremony at the State House Conference Center in Abuja, Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance, emphasized that the bus distribution reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to providing affordable transportation following the removal of fuel subsidies. This marks the first phase of a broader initiative to roll out over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles across the country.
The CNG initiative aligns with Nigeria’s push towards cleaner energy, while also helping alleviate the economic burden on the nation’s poor and vulnerable populations. Edun noted that the cost of fuel for CNG-powered vehicles is significantly lower than that of petrol-powered vehicles, making it an effective measure to combat rising inflation.
Comrades Nuhu Toro of the TUC, Lucky Emonefe of NANS, and Uche Ekwe of the NLC commended the government for the initiative and called for more CNG buses to be made available to the public.
