Ogun State has emerged the first state in the country to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit Buses in a bid to reduce the hardship being experienced by its residents as a result of the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government.
17 converted vehicles were released yesterday in the maiden scheme by the state government as a better alternative and viable means of transportation in the Gateway State.
According to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the introduction of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit Buses in the country will reduce the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as a result of the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government and revolutionize the entire transport sector.
Speaking while unveiling the first set of the CNG Mass Transit Buses at the Arcade ground, Governor’s office, Abeokuta, the governor promised to expand the scope of the scheme's operation throughout the state.
He 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”.
Prince Abiodun stated that the introduction of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit Buses has become 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 principally is caused by the use of fossil fuel, 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 top 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 deplored 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 hinted, would be allocated to workers and students, while some would ply the Mowe-Ibafo to Berger in Lagos and 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 Idi-Aba corridor, while others will serve Ita-Oshin-Adatan route. As we expand our fleet, we will also deplore the buses to major towns and cities, starting with Sango-Ota, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode, this will provide mass transportation for our citizens particularly our young students in the towns and cities".
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.
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 fuel is also one of the key reasons why the State government established the ministry of transportation in February 2020.
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