The Kogi State Government on Wednesday takes delivery of ten CNG buses from the federal government, under the Presidential CNG Initiative to reduce the cost of transportation in the state.
The flag-off of the free Conversion Incentive Programme, (CIP), and the handover of the buses took place in Lokoja on Wednesday.
The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, while flagging off the ceremony commended the effort of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the compress Natural Gas initiative.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Elder Joel Salihu said the state has keyed into the initiative to reduce the high cost of transportation in the state.
He noted that his administration has perfected plans and will continue to support any initiative that will profit its residents.
“Our administration is determined to achieve that through our synergy with all the road transport unions in the state. Under this new initiative, 250 youths selected from across the 21 local government councils of the state will be provided with cutting-edge training in critical areas such as CNG conversion, welding and fabrication, automobile mechatronics, solar system installation, and more,” Ododo said.
READ ALSO: FG deploys CNG buses to labour unions, NANS for commuter service
“This programme will commence as soon as we tidy up the modalities with our proposed partner, the Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute (NKFI).”
Also speaking the Minister of Steel Development, Shaibu Abubakar Audu, noted that a reduction of 40 percent in transportation through CNG vehicles is a good development, adding that the economy was at the verge of collapsing and that is the reason Mr. President decided to address the situation fronterly.
The Project Director and Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Micheal Oluwagbemi in his speech said this will reduce transport fair for all Nigerians.
“The conversion is free as promised by the Federal government. We should focus on the opportunity to reduce cost of transportation. The project at the initiative is to ameliorate the suffering of the people. All commercial vehicles will be converted free,” he said.
