Over 5,600 vehicles run on compressed natural gas in Edo, says Obaseki

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, said data obtained from NIPCO Gas, a Joint-Venture Company (JVC), indicated that over 5,600 vehicles in Benin run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Obaseki disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Benin.

He called for investments in alternative sources of energy, such as natural gas, in the wake of subsidy removal, which has led to a hike in transportation costs.

The governor said NIPCO Gas is a JVC with Nigeria Gas Company Limited (NGC), adding that the initiative for vehicles to run on CNG was rolled out in 2007 and commissioned in 2009.

He noted that the state has the largest deposit of onshore gas in the country.

“We are blessed with a lot of gas in Edo. There is really no reason why our tricycles and vehicles should be using petrol. We have more gas stations in Edo than any other state. We should be using more gas.

“Price levels would always go up. What we have to do is open up the economy, so that people will have more work to do. We need more manufacturing companies in Edo state,” he said.

The governor said NIPCO Gas has established 15 CNG running stations in Benin to provide an alternative for gasoline-run automobiles.

He added that NIPCO Gas is currently in the process of constructing 15 more stations in and around Benin.