CNG vehicles: Ogun takes the lead in mass transportation

Ogun State government, on Monday, launched the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered mass transit buses in Abeokuta, the state capital. The initiative is a novel one. It is an attestation to the notion that the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is unique and forward-looking in policy formulation and execution. With this pivotal move, the Gateway State continues its enviable record as a pace setter in the country.

The resolve by the Prince Abiodun-led administration to find alternatives to petrol in fueling the transportation system in the state predates the removal of subsidy by the Federal Government. In 2022, the prices of diesel skyrocketed, with its impact on the cost of transporting people and goods across the state. At the same time, it become obvious that with the passage and signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law by both the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari, the removal of the controversial subsidy on petroleum products was just a matter of time.

To chart a new course and prepare for the expected eventuality, the Prince Abiodun-led administration took the bull by the horn. It began finding solutions to the expected hardship that will accompany any subsidy removal, taking into consideration the heavy reliance on fuel by Nigerians in everyday life. This prompted the administration to formulate the Ogun State Energy Transition Policy. This policy was meant to guide the state to transition from fossil fuel to green energy. It led the government to the possibility of gas utilisation, with Ogun, having the advantage of harbouring gas pipelines across major cities, such as Agbara, Ota, Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, the Ofada-Mowe axis, among others.

The government’s solution found partnerships in a private company, Nigerian Gas Transport Solution Limited (NGTSL) and its Indian technical partner, Spiro Limited. This Public Private Partnership thus berthed the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) solution. From the analysis obtained, CNG was found to be cheaper than diesel or petrol. For a government desirous of ensuring a cleaner environment through clean energy sources and mitigating the effect of climate change, natural gas was, of course, the best choice.

The October 30th launch was the culmination of the conversion efforts of the government. That day, 17 CNG powered buses were rolled out to the admiration of the who-is-who in the state, that thronged the venue.

An elated Governor Abiodun said the efforts of his government in providing workable solution to the skyrocketing transport fares in the state have finally become a reality, even as he disclosed that the e-mobility segment of the policy, which will see motorcycles, popularly called okada and tricycles, converted to electricity would soon kick off.

The governor said: “About a year ago, we strategically and proactively formulated our Ogun State Energy Transition Policy and what you are witnessing today is the commencement of the implementation, by deploying the use of CNG fueled mass transit buses and our e-mobility for motorcycles and tricycles. These are better cheaper, cleaner, and sustainable means of transportation in our dear state.

“This initiative clearly anticipated the deregulation of the downstream sector and fuel subsidy removal whilst deploying alternative means of running our public transportation with cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness.

“This became imperative considering the urgent need to create a cleaner environment and also to mitigate the effect of climate change, which is really caused by the use of fossil fuels (diesel and petrol).

“As your governor, I am extremely delighted that we are able to commence the implementation of this laudable initiative, and I am bold enough to say that we have come tops again as the first state in the country to record this feat.”

The governor emphasised the success of the project as another evidence of the workability of the Public-Private partnership. Abiodun said: “This is yet another yet another successful public private partnership with Spiro, a company that has deployed successfully in other parts of the sub region. They have trained our local mechanics who have been actively involved in conversion engineering, and we will be setting up conversion stations across the three senatorial districts. This will allow us to commence the rapid conversion of commercial public mass transit buses and cars.

“Besides reducing the cost of transportation of goods and services to prices that are lower than before deregulation, this will furthermore and particularly provide training and job opportunities for our thousands technicians and mechanics.”

Indeed, the government plans to establish CNG filling stations at major transport hubs in the state, such that the stations would be within a 10-30km spread of each other. The state is also reputed to have a high amount of CNG mother stations because of the high pressure of gas availability. Already, a gas refilling station has been established in Obada Oko, while government is providing the required infrastructure across the state to support the buses, particularly more gas refuelling stations along the routes and terminals, according to the governor, who also promised that in the coming days, these will come on board for operations.

The governor listed the distribution and the routes to be operated by the buses in the meantime, while efforts were being made to purchase more buses for proper coverage of the entire state.

“We have given some buses to our indefatigable civil servants/workers. We will be giving some buses to our students’ campuses. We earmarked some of these buses to operate from Mowe/Ibafo to Berger in Lagos whilst others will be deployed to serve Kuto to Wole Soyinka Train Station in Laderin and some to serve the Onikolobo-Idi-Aba corridor and others will serve the Ita-Oshin Adatan corridor.

“As we expand our fleet, we will also deploy more buses to major towns and cities starting with Sango-Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode and this will provide mass transportation for our citizens, particularly our young students in the towns and cities,” the governor enthused.

The governor said the CNG is the first step in the overall policy implementation in the transportation sector. According to him, the e-mobility segment of the policy will soon be launched. This will see the conversion of okada and tricycle to electricity.

“We are determined and committed to the implementation of our multimodal transport master plan of the state connecting air, road, sea, and rail. We are pursuing the construction of a dry port at the Kajola-Papalanto corridor, which will increase our ease of doing business in the state by providing an alternative to the busy Lagos Ports, thereby creating an enabling environment for more investors in Ogun State.

“I am confident that in a couple of months, by the grace of God, we will officially commission and commercial operations will begin at our International Agro-Cargo Airport located along the Iperu-Ilishan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area of the state,” he added.

The governor, who acknowledged the difficult times people are going through, promised to lead from the front in the quest to build a better future together for the people, adding tgat “our resolve to the implementation of our ISEYA agenda is unwavering.”