The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative is set to mobilise all 36 states by year-end, converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more affordable alternative.

The P-CNGi’s Programme Execution Coordinator, Folarin Oworu, announced this at a rally held at the Mando Inter State Terminal, Kaduna, on Thursday, where 100 conversion kits were distributed to commercial transport union members.

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According to him, the initiative targets commercial vehicles, with partners in various states, aiming to convert 250,000 vehicles per year starting next year.

He stated that the conversion kits, worth N1.5m, would be free for transport unions, to reduce transportation costs for the masses.

He added that the next rally is scheduled for Lagos, with plans to cover all states before year-end.

Oworu said, “What we are doing here today is front-to-back CNG conversion mobilisation. Mr. President has decided to make conversion free for the road transport unions – that is the NURTW, NATO and other road transport unions.

“The idea is to bring down the cost of commercial transportation. How do we do that? It is by converting the commercial vehicles of transport unions to make their running cost cheaper. The idea is for them to translate these savings to the end users by making transportation cheaper.

“We are starting here in Kaduna and from Kaduna, we shall move to Lagos and before the end of the year, we would have gone to the whole 36 states.

“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was done by the conversion partners we have at the various locations. The commercial vehicles will go and have their vehicles converted. The conversion kits are one hundred per cent free. The conversion cost is one hundred per cent free. That is the agreement in the MOU.”

In his goodwill message, former National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Najim Yasin, commended President Tinubu’s initiative on the P-CNGi agenda, aimed at converting commercial vehicles to use compressed natural gas.

Yasmin applauded the President’s support for the transport sector and the decision to provide conversion kits free of charge to commercial vehicles, estimated to benefit 1 million vehicles.

He encouraged members of NURTW, NATO, and other road users to key into the program, which is aimed at reducing the suffering of the masses by decreasing transportation costs and fuel prices.

Yasmin thanked the President and organisers for involving transport workers in the program and expressed appreciation for the support from neighbouring states.

He emphasised the program’s potential to reduce fuel prices and transportation costs, benefiting the masses. The program is set to roll out across all 36 states in the country.

Yasmin said, “This programme will move around the 36 states of this country. We, the National Union of Road Transport Workers of Nigeria, the National Association of Transport Owners, use this opportunity to commend President Bola Tinubu for this laudable initiative and support for the transport sector in Nigeria.

“I called on entire transport organizations- NURTWN, NATO…etc across the country to key into the programme. They have signed the agreement with the company for the conversion here in our present. We have got a number of vehicles that as of today can move to the conversion centres so that these vehicles can be converted one by one.

“This one is strictly for commercial vehicles and that is why we are involved so that we ensure that our members key into this programme. We appreciate Mr. President and all those who work tirelessly to make this programme a reality.

“We know how much a litre of fuel is now sold and if you fill your tank for N50,000, N45,000, it depends on the number of litres your vehicle is consuming. Before you go from Kaduna to Abuja, that fuel is gone. Automatically, it will affect the transport fare.”

The Presidential CNG initiative is a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s palliative measures to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal policy on the masses.

The initiative is seeking to provide relief to Nigerians by promoting the use of compressed natural gas as a cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel.

The move is part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal and ensure a smoother transition to a more sustainable energy future.