Federal Government Vows To Slash Transport Prices Through CNG Initiative, Empower 2000 Nigerian Youths With Tricycles
According to Oluwagbemi, “This initiative will help train the police cadets to manage strategic conversion centres established by the NPTF.
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has said that the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) is working in collaboration with transporters in the country to slash transport costs and empower 2000 Nigerian youths with tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep.
The Program Director/Chief Executive of PCNGi, Michael Oluwagbemi, who made this known in a statement issued on Friday said that PCNGi on Friday commenced a Transport Fare Drop Programme across the country, starting with Abuja, as it ramped up the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner, more affordable alternative to fuel.
Oluwagbemi said representatives of the PCNGi signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) covering the Abuja to Itakpe Station—Ajaokuta Train Station—Adavi route to convert fleet vehicles to CNG in return for a 30-40% fare reduction.
“This programme will encourage NURTW members in Abuja to convert their vehicles to CNG in exchange for a fare reduction.
“On Saturday, September 28th, 2024, the PCNGi will continue its nationwide commercial incentive programme for commercial car open days, expanding to 38 centres in Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, and Edo states.
“The PCNGi will sign an agreement with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) on Monday, September 30th, to operationalise the Nigerian Police CNG Conversion Programme and train cadets to manage the strategic conversion centres the NPTF is investing in,” Oluwagbemi said.
According to Oluwagbemi, “This initiative will help train the police cadets to manage strategic conversion centres established by the NPTF.
“Similarly, to celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Anniversary of Independence on October 1st, 2024, the PCNGi will launch the CNG Tricycle Empowerment Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths.
“This program aims to provide over 2000 young Nigerians with the opportunity to own and operate CNG-powered tricycles.
“The PCNGi will launch the Kogi State Conversion Incentive Programme on Wednesday, October 2nd, and hand over CNG buses to the state’s mass transit entity to ply interstate routes to Abuja.
“Additionally, the PCNGI will inaugurate three new CNG conversion sites in the state.”
Oluwagbemi said “To conclude the week’s activities, the PCNGI will launch in Ekiti State, where the handover of CNG buses to the state mass transit organisation to ply the route to Abuja will take place. It will also inaugurate four new CNG conversion sites in the state.”
