President Bola Tinubu inaugurated 30 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses on Monday in Abuja as part of the Presidential CNG Initiative.
The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited donated the locally manufactured CNG buses to the Federal Government. Each of the buses can accommodate 100 passengers.
Monday’s launch comes just days after the President held closed-door talks with the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd., Mr Innocent Chukwuma, at the Aso Rock Villa, on August 8, 2024.
Chukwuma had said the commuting public would soon enjoy cheaper transportation through Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses.
TCNG buses
“I’ve discussed with him (President Tinubu) and in a short time, the masses, the public will have enough CNG busses on the road,” he told journalists after the meeting.
The automobile entrepreneur hinted at an ongoing partnership between his company and the Federal Government and described the Presidential CNG Initiative as “the way forward” for Nigeria.
At the launch, the President said utilising natural gas to power the nation’s transportation industry would reduce transportation costs, enhance productivity and save the nation trillions of naira spent on the importation of petrol and diesel.
“If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we will be able to achieve the prosperity we are working hard to accomplish for our people.
“These CNG buses are encouraging and promising to enhance our transportation system,” he said.
Tinubu noted that commercial vehicles account for over 80 per cent of the nation’s petroleum demand, citing examples of several countries that have switched to CNG for their transportation systems and are already reaping the benefits.
“Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 per cent of our petroleum demand, costing us trillions of naira every month.
“The solution is here. We have it. We will work on it. We promise you things will get better. Prosperity will be achieved,” the President said.
Tinubu commended Innoson Motors, the vehicle manufacturers, for their commitment to his administration’s CNG initiative.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of DAPPMAN, Winifred Akpani, expressed her association’s support for the administration’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s transportation system, which she noted would lead to lower transportation costs.
She said, “This batch of hybrid buses, which DAPPMAN is donating to the Federal Government, furthers our support for this administration’s resolve to address Nigeria’s energy challenges.
“We are proud to note that these buses have been designed, manufactured, and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company.”
Akpani revealed that each hybrid bus can transport 100 people with an alternative to diesel.
Also, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said NNPC contributed 10 of the 30 buses.
