The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) has said it is converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more affordable alternative.
Folarin Oworu, the P-CNGi’s Programme Execution Coordinator, announced this at a rally held at the Mando Inter State Terminal, Kaduna, on Thursday, where 100 conversion kits were distributed to commercial transport union members.
He said the initiative targets commercial vehicles, with partners in various states, aiming to convert 250,000 vehicles per year starting next year.
He stated that the conversion kits, worth N1.5m, would be free for transport unions, to reduce transportation costs for the masses.
He added that the next rally is scheduled for Lagos, with plans to cover all states before year-end.
Oworu said, “What we are doing here today is front-to-back CNG conversion mobilisation. Mr. President has decided to make conversion free for the road transport unions – that is the NURTW, NATO and other road transport unions.
“The idea is to bring down the cost of commercial transportation. How do we do that? It is by converting the commercial vehicles of transport unions to make their running cost cheaper. The idea is for them to translate these savings to the end users by making transportation cheaper.
“We are starting here in Kaduna and from Kaduna, we shall move to Lagos and before the end of the year, we would have gone to the whole 36 states.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was done by the conversion partners we have at the various locations. The commercial vehicles will go and have their vehicles converted. The conversion kits are one hundred per cent free. The conversion cost is one hundred per cent free. That is the agreement in the MOU.”
In his goodwill message, former National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Najim Yasin, commended President Tinubu’s initiative on the P-CNGi agenda, aimed at converting commercial vehicles to use compressed natural gas.
Yasmin applauded the President’s support for the transport sector and the decision to provide conversion kits free of charge to commercial vehicles, estimated to benefit 1 million vehicles.
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