Subsidy Removal: CNG buses will lessen hardship in Ogun — Gov Abiodun

In a bid to reduce the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as a result of the recent removal of fuel subsidies, the Ogun State Government launched the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit Buses on Monday.

The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the CNG buses would revolutionise the entire transport sector.

The governor, while speaking at the unveiling of the 17 converted vehicles in the maiden scheme, held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, said the state government would expand the scope of the scheme’s operation throughout the state.

He explained that vehicles in the maiden scheme became the first in the country in response to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, with the deployment of CNG Technology and e-mobility as better alternatives and viable means of transportation in the Gateway State

Abiodun said the initiative was conceived even before the fuel subsidy removal, as his administration was desirous of a cost-effective transportation system with little impact on the environment.

“The initiative was clearly anticipated because we knew that the regulation of the downstream sector was imminent and unavoidable.

“This has become very imperative considering the urgent need to provide a cleaner environment and to mitigate the effects of climate change, which we are all seeing to be real and which is principally caused by the use of fossil fuels, predominantly 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 to say that we come tops yet again as the first state in the country to record this feat, which is another successful public-private sector partnership with our partner called Spiro, a company that has successfully deployed this in other parts of the West Africa sub-region,” the governor said.

He noted that local mechanics, who are part of the conversion engineering, had been trained, while conversion stations have been set up in the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that this would allow for the rapid conversion of commercial and public mass transit buses and vehicles across the state.

The governor added that the initiative would reduce the cost of transporting goods and services as well as provide training and job opportunities for thousands of technicians and mechanics around the state.

Some of the buses, the governor revealed, would be given to workers and students, while others would ply the Mowe-Ibafo to Berger in Lagos and the Redeemed axis to Lagos Island, as the corridor was heavily congested with large cross-border migration.

He said: “Some of these buses ply Kuto to Wole Soyinka train station in Laderin, some from Onikolobo to the Idi-Aba corridor, while others will serve the Ita-Oshin-Adatan route.

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

Governor Abiodun said the state government has set up a gas filling station at Obada-Oko, just as it
would provide the needed infrastructure to support the refuelling of the buses along the roads and terminals.

Abiodun appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative, noting that the state government is taking direction from the federal government as a sub-national in executing the project.

“I want to show every resident of Ogun State that the government appreciates that these are very difficult times, and we are all dealing with the trying period. I promise you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the needed succour and relief for the generality of our people.

“I hope you are aware that we have commenced the construction of a dry port at the Kajola-Papalanto corridor, which will further open up the state for investment opportunities as a viable alternative to the busy Lagos Port.

“In the same vein, it is a thing of joy that in the next couple of months, commercial operations will begin at our Agro-Cargo International Airport located along the Iperu-Ilishan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area of the State,” the Governor added.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Transportation Engr. Olugbenga Dairo said that the unveiling of the buses marks an important milestone in the implementation of the state’s transport policies and the state multi-modal transport plan, adding that the use of alternative and cheaper fuels is also one of the key reasons why the state government established the ministry of transportation in February 2020.

Also speaking, the member representing Imeko and Yewa North in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, described CNG as one of the challenges to the transportation problem caused by the fuel subsidy removal, moreso when the Federal Government was also thinking in the same direction.

He appreciated the Governor for the brilliant pivotal initiative, adding that the impact must be felt by the people.

Akarigbo of Remoland and Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, lauded the achievements of the present administration, saying that the Prince Abiodun-led administration is on the right track.

The Akarigbo urged Governor Abiodun to ensure that the CNG-enabled buses not only operate inter-city but also embark on intra-city transportation to support the refuelling of the buses along the roads and terminals.

Abiodun appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative, noting that the state government is taking direction from the federal government as a sub-national in executing the project.

“I want to show every resident of Ogun State that the government appreciates that these are very difficult times, and we are all dealing with the trying period. I promise you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the needed succour and relief for the generality of our people.

“I hope you are aware that we have commenced the construction of a dry port at the Kajola-Papalanto corridor, which will further open up the state for investment opportunities as a viable alternative to the busy Lagos Port.

“In the same vein, it is a thing of joy that in the next couple of months, commercial operations will begin at our Agro-Cargo International Airport located along the Iperu-Ilishan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area of the State,” the governor added.

In his welcome address, Commissioner for Transportation Engr. Olugbenga Dairo said that the unveiling of the buses marks an important milestone in the implementation of the state’s transport policies and the state multi-modal transport plan, adding that the use of alternative and cheaper fuels is also one of the key reasons why the state government established the ministry of transportation in February 2020.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

REVEALED: Lifestyles of Ibadan ‘clerics’ caught with human head, body parts

When the video of three suspects –Ramoni Opeyemi a.k.a Alubarika; Taofeek Olalekan a.k.a K’abelohun and Tayo Akinrinola  a.k.a Ifa– caught with…

‘Farewell great king’, Natasha mourns Ohinoyi of Ebiraland

Senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central, Chief Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on…

Nigeria’s judiciary stinks, retiring Supreme court justice explodes

ON his last day as Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, declared on Friday in Abuja that the Nigerian judiciary is…

Big bum-bum: How Female celebrities are fuelling butt enhancement craze

The pursuit of the perfect physique for many Nigerian female celebrities and the surge in…

 The rumble in Supreme Court’s jungle

Is there any connect between law and public opinion or judgments and public opinion? Before Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad’s (rtd) valedictory speech at…

Fury knocked down but beat Ngannou on split decision

WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury beat former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou on a split decision in...