Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit buses in the country will revolutionize the entire transport sector and reduce the hardship being experienced by Nigerians following the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The governor made this remark during the unveiling of the first set of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit buses in the state with a promise to expand the scope of the scheme’s operations throughout the state.
The 17 converted vehicles in the maiden scheme became the first in the country in response to the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, with the deployment of CNG Technology and E- Mobility as a better alternative and viable means of transportation in the state
Abiodun, while speaking at the launching, 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.
In addition, he explained 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.
According to him, some of the buses would be given to workers and students, while some would ply the Mowe- Ibafo highway to Berger in Lagos and Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) routes to Lagos Island, based on the high traffic congestion with large cross border migration alond the routes.
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, Ijebu-Ode and this will provide mass transportation for our citizens particularly our young students in the towns and cities.”
He also disclosed that the state government had set up a gas filling station at Obada-Oko, just as it would provide the needed gas for the buses.
Abiodun clarified: “The initiative was clearly anticipated because we knew that the regulation of the downstream sector was eminent and unavoidable.
“This has become very 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 tops 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”, Abiodun added.
