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FG Rolls Out Sixty-Four CNG Buses To Mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary

Published

2 weeks ago

September 29, 2024

Joel Ajayi

As part of the celebrations for Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, the Federal Government today unveiled 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, underscoring its commitment to providing affordable and environmentally friendly transportation for Nigerians.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja was led by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. In attendance were other high-ranking officials, including the Honourable

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; the Honourable

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris Malagi; and the Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande Wisdom.

This launch marks the first phase of a broader initiative that will see the distribution of over 500 CNG and 100 electric buses to labour and student unions aimed at enhancing public transport nationwide.

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister emphasized that this initiative fulfils President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to support Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens in the wake of necessary macroeconomic reforms.

The unveiling of these 64 buses is a symbolic gesture in honour of our nation’s 64th Independence Anniversary, but it represents just the beginning. Hundreds more buses are on order, with deliveries continuing, HM Edun stated.

He added that the move is a crucial part of our strategy to transition to cleaner, more affordable energy for Nigerians, particularly in the mass transit sector.

The Minister explained that the adoption of CNG reflects a shift towards more cost-effective and environmentally friendly fuel options. He noted that CNG-powered vehicles significantly reduce fuelling costs, offering up to a 70% savings compared to petrol-powered vehicles.

A CNG vehicle costs about one-third of what it takes to fuel a petrol vehicle. Instead of spending 50,000 Naira to fill a tank, Nigerians will pay around 15,000 Naira with CNG. This is a substantial step towards lowering the cost of living, curbing inflation, and improving the quality of life for Nigerians, the Minister said.

The rollout of CNG buses not only supports more affordable public transportation but also marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to address climate change, promote cleaner energy, and drive sustainable economic growth.

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Minister of State Petroleum join forces with FRSC on Road Safety Campaign

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In what seems to be another milestone in inter-agency collaboration, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Oil) have reached a compromise to begin a robust partnership, geared towards intensifying existing efforts embedded in the campaign for safer roads in Nigeria.

The partnership was birthed during the visit of the Corps Marshal FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, to the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri in his office on Monday 14 October 2024.

In the course of the conversation that ensued, the Honourable Minister assured the Corps Marshal of his ministry’s readiness to partner with the Corps in the campaign for safer roads in Nigeria.

While congratulating the Corps Marshal on his well deserved appointment, the Minister expressed optimism that with the inauguration of the National Road Safety Advisory Council (NRSS), by the Vice President last week, stakeholders would work harmoniously to ensure safety on the nation’s highways. He commended the FRSC for its commitment to road safety as evidenced by the successes recorded in the areas of Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme, Drivers certification and other public enlightenment programs that have led to drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic crashes.

The Minister however, expressed concerns with frequent cases of crashes involving petroleum tankers some of which resulted in fire incidents with great loses to lives and property. He further stressed that even as the Ministry would have preferred that the use of pipelines as veritable means of transporting the petroleum products, the current hazards as well as the cost implications involved in replacing the pipes have made that impracticable at the moment. He therefore solicited the support of the FRSC to properly streamline the activities of drivers at the depots with a view to ensuring that only tankers that meet the minimum safety standards load the petroleum products from such facilities.

The Minister expressed the willingness of the Ministry to support the FRSC with logistics and training to enhance the capacity and efficiency of its personnel in road traffic management.
Earlier in his remarks, the Corps Marshal commended the Minister for the positive reforms being embarked upon in petroleum industry in Nigeria by the current leadership. He noted the existing peace and harmony in the Niger Delta areas and requested for collaboration for sustained peace and development in the oil industry.

The Corps disclosed that as part of the FRSC’s commitment to safety in movement of petroleum products, personnel of the Corps are being deployed to major depots across the country to ensure compliance to safety rules and regulations with particular reference with the policy on safe to load. He requested the Minister to assist the Corps with some logistics including patrol vehicles and ambulance for enhanced road surveillance and prompt response to distress calls.

The meeting which had in attendance some Directors of the Ministry of petroleum also has some principal officers of the FRSC in attendance with both sides agreeing on the need to sustain the partnership for safety on the nation’s highways and stability in the transportation of the petroleum products.

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