To promote sustainable transportation and reduce reliance on petrol and diesel, the Federal Government, under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi), distributed 20 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in Lagos on Tuesday.
The buses were received by the Oniru of Iru, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan, who accepted them on behalf of Iru Land Transport Company Limited.
During the handover ceremony, Oluwagbemi Michael, Director of PCNGi, emphasized the administration’s commitment to expanding the use of CNG buses across Nigeria. He stated that the initiative is a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote environmentally friendly and cost-effective transportation options nationwide.
“The Federal Government is accelerating efforts to ensure the availability of CNG filling stations across the country,” Oluwagbemi said. He also highlighted that the buses distributed were locally produced, reinforcing the government’s focus on boosting local manufacturing.
The beneficiaries of these buses will pay for them over time, with the funds being reinvested to procure additional buses for other cities. This repayment model aims to ensure the sustainability of the program.
Oluwagbemi noted that the initiative had already seen its first rollout in Ibadan, with Lagos being the second city to benefit. He also mentioned that the program would soon expand to the Federal Capital Territory and Ilorin, with plans to distribute 531 buses in the first phase.
The Oniru of Iru expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Federal Government for selecting his kingdom as a beneficiary of the initiative.
He assured the government of the people’s support and highlighted the positive impact the initiative would have on the local economy, particularly in job creation.
