In a bid to cushion the hardship experienced by Nigerians over the high cost of transportation, the Federal Government has donated over 64 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for commuter service.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, noting that the government believes the buses will significantly reduce transportation costs in the country, bringing hope for a more affordable and efficient public transport system in Nigeria.
The handover of the buses took place at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja on Sunday as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
The event was attended by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Others at the event included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, among others.
According to the statement, Edun described the distribution of the buses as fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi).
He expressed the view that this initiative would alleviate the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability.
Edun further explained that the gesture marks the beginning of a broader national rollout, with plans to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the initial phase.
The Minister stressed that the CNG initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy while leveraging its energy resources for industrialization.
He said, “Today marks another critical milestone in the policies of President Tinubu. It is a transition to cleaner fuel. It is for Nigerians. The emphasis is on mass transit. There is a focus on intervening on the side of workers so that they have cheaper transport to cope with rising prices.
“We’ve had an initial spike in inflation; now it has peaked, and it is coming down. Mr. President and the whole team are determined to ensure that we keep inflation coming down, and this is one of the major ways.”
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy said motorists can now pay as low as N15,000 to fill a tank instead of N50,000 or more.
“Today, it is CNG. Tomorrow, it will be helping farmers cope with the remainder of the wet season planting and then the dry season planting, starting from November, with fertilizer, inputs, seeds, and herbicides. This is all to get prices down and the economy moving again,” he said.
Responding, NANS president, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC, Comrade Nuhu Toro, and the Head of the International Desk at NLC, Comrade Uche Ekwe, commended the federal government for the gesture, while calling for more CNG buses to be made available to the public.
The NANS representative said, “This move is a significant step in alleviating the economic burden of Nigerian workers.”
Noting that the benefits of the CNG buses would become more apparent once more buses are provided across Nigeria, the NLC representative said, “If we get more buses, the effect will translate immediately to Nigerians. If people start using these buses, they will promote it in their communities.”
