By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday unveiled 30 hybrid-powered Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease the transportation problems in the country.
The President said that the use of CNG vehicles is an economic necessity all Nigerians must embrace.
Speaking when he commissioned the CNG buses donated by the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association DAPPMAN, shortly after the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu assured that things will get better and prosperity will be achieved.
The President, who said powering Nigeria’s transportation industry with natural gas was the best way to go, said he was aware of the challenges of the high cost of transportation.
Underscoring the importance of embracing the CNG-powered transportation system, Tinubu said countries like India have long mandated CNG vehicles since 2024.
According to him, “Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicle makes up about 80 per cent of our petrol demand costing us trillions of naira each month.
“The solution is here, we have it and we will work on it, we promise you things will get better and prosperity will be achieved”.
The President said the nation can enhance its energy competitiveness which would facilitate changes that will result in prosperity and accomplishment for Nigerians.
He said, “It is a great inspiration for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government. Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation Industry is the best way to go. The solution is here, we have it and we will work on it. We promise you things will get better and prosperity will be achieved.”
He said with the huge deposit of gas in Nigeria, the Federal Government would work towards achieving a more productive and innovative CNG-powered transportation system for the citizens.
According to him, “For many countries especially Nigeria with our gas, we will work harder with productive and innovative ideas. It is an economic necessity that we should embrace, I noted the recent yearning of many ordinary Nigerians on transportation.
“We can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this. We would be able to achieve prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.”
The President revealed that the donated hybrid-powered CNG buses are convertible, describing the development as promising and a progressive lift to the Nigerian transportation system.
He commended Innoson Motors and other members of DAPPMAN for their efforts.
“I thank Innoson Motors and others who have been committed to changing the narratives in Nigeria,” he said.
*Each bus to transport 100 persons daily with alternatives to diesel usage
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association DAPPMAN, Winifred Akpani, said the buses were designed, manufactured, and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Akpani stated that each of the buses is capable of transporting 100 people with alternatives to diesel usage.
She assured the government of continued full support saying, that DAPPMAN will continue to go the extra mile to ease the problems of not just the downtrodden but all Nigerians.
The DAPPMAN Chairman hinted that more donations would be made in subsequent phases.
“These are hybrid buses that will run on CNG. Each of these buses is capable of transporting 100 people and they also have alternative use of diesel. We hope there will be no shortage of CNG, but they are hybrid buses and we are very happy today that we can present this.
“We believe that these buses will be put to use especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity.
“I’d like to state that as part of our delivery, we’ve made provision that each of these buses will have two drivers.”
