The federal government has inaugurated its Conversion Incentive Programme (CPI) in Kogi and donated ten Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) commercial buses to ease transportation in the state.
The Minister of Steel Development, Mr Shuaibu Audu, while speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday in Lokoja, said the initiative would address the current hike in transportation fare.
The minister said that the federal government had signed an agreement with two companies in the state to deliver on its mandate on the P-CNGi, CIP and business handover initiative.
Mr Audu explained that the CNG conversion was introduced to commercial vehicles free of charge, adding that more of it would arrive when Ajaokuta Steel Company became fully operational.
“The CNG initiative creates more jobs opportunities and ease the means of transportation across the country,” Mr Audu said.
In his remarks, Governor Ahmed Ododo, said that the initiative was the federal and state government’s effort to reduce the dependence on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country.
Mr Ododo, who was represented by his deputy, Joel Salifu, said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was on track to reduce economic challenges through the introduction of CNG.
Also speaking, Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, programme director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, noted that the initiative aims to reduce the current hardship through the introduction of CNG
He said that the CNG powered commercial buses provided would ease transportation services for the citizens.
Mr Oluwagbemi reiterated the government’s commitment to affordable transportation and reducing costs by 40 per cent.
He said that the presidential CNG initiative was a key driver for boosting the economy, adding that it would also make significant impact on Nigeria’s energy landscape.
Mr Oluwagbemi said that Kogi would be among the 25 pioneer states to get 30 free vehicles under the CNG initiative.
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner of Transportation, Livas Atuluku, described the initiative as a laudable achievement of the President Tinubu administration.
(NAN)
