Ogun govt to release 100 CNG buses to transport unions

Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s administration will make available 100 brand new 18-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for the use of transporters in the state, an official disclosed on Monday.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, said in a statement that Abiodun announced this at a meeting with transport unions on how to ensure fair transportation pricing in the state.

Adeniran disclosed further that the governor also announced that the Federal Government would make available 20 CNG-enabled buses and 500 conversion kits to the state government during the week.

“Gov. Abiodun also announced the inauguration of an enforcement committee, comprising the Commissioner of Police in the state and his counterpart in the Department of State Services (DSS).

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“Others on the committee are the Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE) representative and heads of transport unions, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Transportation and Trade and Investment,” he said.

Adeniran explained that the meeting was called because of events over the last week, including fuel scarcity which was already abating, and the associated increase in the product’s pump price.

He stated that Gov. Abiodun noted that there had always been an astronomical rise in transport fares anytime there was a slight adjustment in the pump prices of fuel.

“He said the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, is not unmindful of the impact of the recent hike in the pump price.

“The governor however said government was putting in place measures to lessen the impact on the people,” Adeniran said.

He disclosed that the plans the state government was putting in place, in the first instance, include making 100 18-seater buses available to the transport unions.

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“These will be 100 brand new CNG buses, and these buses will be branded buses, not no-name buses.”

He quoted the governor as saying: “We are talking about Toyota Hiace buses that we will give to you under a purchase agreement.

“We will make them available to you, and you can pay in installments over a period of time.

“You have demonstrated commitment and seriousness, and we are confident that when we give you these buses, you will utilize them responsibly and pay back on time.”

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Adeniran added that Gov. Abiodun pointed out that there was no need for transporters to increase transport fares by over 1,000 per cent.

“He said this should not be when the price of PMS was just increased by 30 per cent.