By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal Government has handed over 64 100-capacity Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to Organised Labour and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as part of its efforts to alleviate transportation challenges in the country. The presentation ceremony took place on Sunday at the banquet hall of the State House in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris and Minister of Finance Wale Edun announced that an additional 700 CNG buses are expected to arrive in Nigeria soon. The initiative is part of the government’s strategy to provide affordable transportation following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023.
Since the subsidy removal, Nigerians have faced steep increases in transportation fares and the cost of goods. Despite widespread calls for the return of the subsidy regime, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has emphasized gas as a sustainable solution. The government is targeting the conversion of over 200,000 vehicles and tricycles to run on CNG, offering a cheaper energy alternative for Nigerians.
Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, and Head of the International Desk of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Uche Ekwe, commended the government for the initiative but noted that the current number of buses would not be sufficient to meet the transportation needs of the entire Nigerian workforce.
The introduction of CNG buses is seen as a critical step in reducing the financial burden on citizens, particularly in the face of rising transportation costs across the country.
