The Federal Government has officially handed over 64 Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses to representatives from the Trade Union Congress, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the National Association of Nigerian Students.
The event took place on Sunday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, coinciding with Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary celebrations.
Leading the government delegation at the handover ceremony was Mr. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance. The delegation included several other ministers, such as Alhaji Mohammed Idris (Minister of Information and National Orientation), Sen. Abubakar Bagudu (Minister of Budget and Economic Planning), and Mr. Ayodele Olawande (Minister of State for Youth Development).
During the ceremony, Edun highlighted that the deployment of these buses for commuter service would significantly reduce transportation costs, paving the way for a more affordable and efficient public transport system. He emphasized that the distribution of the buses fulfills President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide accessible transportation in light of the fuel subsidy removal under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas.
“This initiative aims to ease the burden on the poor and vulnerable while supporting macroeconomic reforms essential for stabilizing the economy,” Edun stated. He noted that the handover of the 64 buses on the eve of Nigeria’s National Day marks the beginning of a broader national rollout, with plans to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the initial phase.
Edun also mentioned that the CNG initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy while optimizing its energy resources for industrial development.
“Today marks a critical milestone in President Tinubu’s policies, as we transition to cleaner fuels, with a focus on mass transit,” he remarked.
The Coordinating Minister further stressed the government’s commitment to intervening on behalf of workers to ensure affordable transportation amidst rising costs.
He noted that CNG-powered vehicles cost significantly less to fuel, with motorists now paying as low as N15,000 to fill a tank, compared to over N50,000 for petrol vehicles.
Looking ahead, Edun stated, “Today, it is CNG. Tomorrow, we will assist farmers with the remainder of the wet season planting and the upcoming dry season planting, providing fertilizer, inputs, seeds, and herbicides to drive down prices and stimulate the economy.”
Comrade Nuhu Toro, Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC; Comrade Lucky Emonefe, NANS president; and Comrade Uche Ekwe, Head of the International Desk at NLC, all commended President Tinubu for this initiative, calling for the expansion of CNG bus availability to the public.
Toro expressed gratitude for the implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage, stating, “This move significantly alleviates the economic burden on Nigerian workers.” Emonefe praised the government for its focus on education and student welfare, highlighting the introduction of a student loan scheme for higher education.
“Nigerian students are thrilled to celebrate our 64th independence anniversary. We appreciate the CNG buses and believe that President Tinubu is genuinely committed to student welfare,” Emonefe noted.
The NLC representative underscored that the benefits of the CNG buses would become increasingly evident as more buses are deployed across the country.
“If we get more buses, the positive impact will be immediate for Nigerians, as more people will embrace this public transport option,” he stated.
(Vanguard)
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