President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated 30 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, which have a combined capacity to carry 3,000 passengers. The buses, locally manufactured and donated by the Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), mark a significant step towards transforming Nigeria’s transportation sector.
During the inauguration, President Tinubu emphasized that the adoption of natural gas as a power source for the transportation industry would significantly lower transportation costs, boost productivity, and save trillions of naira currently spent on importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Highlighting the potential impact, the president noted that commercial vehicles account for over 80% of Nigeria’s petroleum demand. He pointed to the successful switch to CNG in other countries, such as India, which mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles as early as 2004, and is already seeing the benefits.
“The solution is here. We have it. We will work on it. We promise you, definitely, things will get better. Prosperity will be achieved,” Tinubu declared, expressing confidence in the positive changes this initiative would bring.
The president also praised Innoson Motors, the Nigerian company responsible for manufacturing the buses, for their dedication to the CNG initiative.
DAPPMAN Chairman, Dame Winifred Akpani, reiterated the association’s support for the administration’s efforts to improve the nation’s transportation system, which she believes will lead to lower transportation costs. She also highlighted the significance of the buses being designed, manufactured, and delivered by a Nigerian company, furthering the goal of addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges.
News Editor