The Federal Government has handed over to the Ekiti State government 15 Compressed Natural Gas and unveiled seven conversion centres in the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative , Michael Oluwagbemi, who handed over the buses on Friday in Ado Ekiti, also disclosed the plan by the Federal Government to launch a CNG Industrial Park.
Oluwagbemi stated that the CNG sector in Nigeria had attracted investments of over $175m for the establishment of conversion centres, assembly plants, and stations, as well as the creation of thousands of jobs for youths and technicians.
Oluwagbemi mentioned that the impact of the CNG buses handed over for commercial transportation along Abuja and Kogi State two weeks ago was already being felt, stating, “States that are keying into this project are able to pass on up to a 40 per cent reduction in transportation fares to their citizens.
“Today, we are handing over some of the CNG buses that will be plying your roads here in Ekiti, delivering an immediate reduction in transportation fares for the teeming citizens of this state.
“Additionally, we are also distributing some of these kits, and we will be signing off on at least seven centres that will handle conversions in Ekiti State.”
Oluwagbemi emphasised that President Bola Tinubu was promoting CNG innovation to ensure Nigerians can power their vehicles and machinery with a form of natural gas that is not only cleaner but also cheaper, safer, more reliable, and abundant for the movement of people and goods.
He stated that CNG, through its value chain, is enabling investment in the economy, saying, “Without investments, the government alone cannot do it all. We estimate that this energy transition that we need in Nigeria will require nothing less than $3.5bn to $4.5bn, with most of the funding coming from the private sector.
“I am pleased to report that within a year, we have seen investment of well over $175m in this sector, creating thousands of jobs for our teeming youths and technicians. We have delivered over 10 mother stations, and at least 75 daughter stations are currently under development, some of which are in this state.
“In recent months, as additional conversion centres and refueling stations are being set up by the private sector, assembly plants are coming on stream in Lagos, Sagamu, Ajaokuta, and Abuja, assembling cars, tricycles, and conversion kits. Potentially, we will soon be launching the CNG Industrial Park. Thousands of jobs will be created in Nigeria, and Ekiti State is already a direct beneficiary of this job creation.”
Oluwagbemi noted that the number of conversion centres in Nigeria had risen from seven to over 125 within a year, adding, “We have also acquired over 34,000 conversion kits already on hand, with another 70,000 on their way to contribute towards our goal of one million conversions by the year 2027.
“We have also acquired 5,000 tricycles. We handed 2,000 of them to the Ministry of Youth last week, and next week, we will be implementing another handover to the Ministry of Labour. The CNG tricycles will create over 20,000 jobs, not just for operators but also for those assembling, maintaining, and collecting fares for these clean tricycles that Nigeria is about to launch.”
He stated that with seven conversion centres in Ekiti State, “several hundred technicians will be gainfully employed, providing for their families and contributing to the state’s economy, paying taxes, and helping Ekiti State grow while delivering reduced transportation costs to all Nigerians.”
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who received the buses and praised the management of the seven conversion centres, stated that the state government had joined Tinubu “enthusiastically in embracing CNG, particularly in the vehicle mobility sector.”
Oyebanji, represented by the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, urged the people of Ekiti, especially commercial operators, including tricycles, to consider converting their vehicles to CNG.
Punch
