By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Federal government on Monday September 2nd, 2024 handed over 20 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the Oyo state government.
The initiative, according to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal and promote safer, cleaner and reliable nation.
Speaking at the event held at Pacesetter Transport Services (PTS) office in Ibadan, the President, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Programme Director, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), Michael Oluwagbemi said the initiative was one of the testimonies to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, President Tinubu was concern about making life easy for Nigerians, having discovered importance of transportation towards the development of the nation’s economy.
He noted that the deployment of CNG buses in the country was to addressed issues affecting Nigerians particularly on petrol importation, among others.
According to him, the deployment of the buses was to end the era of enriching the rich alone, whom he described as cabitocrat for the benefit of everyone and stressed that the compressed natural gas was a source of fuel that is abundant in Nigeria to ameliorate hardship.
“President Tinubu is asking us to use our gas to thrive in transportation, industries, produce more foods and fertilizers as well as other things that will make life easier for the people.
“We are beginning to do the right thing but this requires us to taste some pains. We can’t go back to subsidize our own impoverishment. As a team, we are determined to show our commitment.
“We are here to present 20 buses as a sustainable partnership with Pacesetter Transport Service (PTS) to generate income because they are assets.We can effectively ensure that the future of the Oyo State is brighter as well as Nigeria.”
In his remark, the Chairman and Sole Administrator of PTS, Hon. Ibrahim Salami said the CNG buses is best approach by federal government to solved hardship been experience by Nigerians as a result of removal of fuel subsidy.
He however described bringing the buses to the state as remarkable which according to him will help to ease burden of people in the state.
Also, the Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Environment, Engr. Ademola Aderinto, said CNG is far cheaper form of energy, noting that the initiative will give a longer and healthier life as it will also prevent emission of carbon monoxide always caused by combustion engines.
