The federal government, on Friday, launched the long-awaited Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative with the handing over of two CNG-fueled buses to the management of the State House.<\/h4>\n

Speaking at the official launch of the initiative at Presidential Villa, Abuja, Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi), Mr Zacch Adedeji, who performed the handing over ceremony, disclosed that the launch also involved the opening of seven pilot conversion centres nationwide.<\/p>\n

Adedeji, who is also the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), further disclosed that the government has waived the Value Added Tax (VAT) on CNG purchases as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain.<\/p>\n

Chairman of the initiative, who was represented at the launching event by the Authority Chief Executive Officer of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, also disclosed that plans are underway for the government to establish multiple conversion centres across the country in the next two weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pleased to announce that there are currently seven conversion centres in Nigeria and the government is actively working to establish more of them. These plans will be rolled out, starting this afternoon, by the initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project is not only about conversion of vehicles but also about generating employment opportunities. It demonstrates President Bola Tinubu\u2019s commitment to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, it is my pleasure as your Chief Tax Officer, a position I hold alongside as Chairman of this initiative, to announce that we will be waiving the Value Added Tax on CNG purchases as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to build a sustainable future, leveraging our own cheap and clean energy source; gas\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

Adedeji emphasized that the delivery of the CNG project demonstrates President Bola Tinubu\u2019s commitment to both environmental sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria.<\/p>\n

He implored Nigerians to consider the buses as a symbol of a new beginning, \u201ca journey towards the future, where the power of tomorrow starts today. Let this be a beacon for our country, Nigeria, and an inspiration to the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Committee Chairman stressed that the buses running on compressed natural gas are not just a technical achievement, but a symbol of President Tinubu\u2019s administration\u2019s commitment to spearheading an energy revolution.<\/p>\n

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors\u2019 Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said Nigeria is the eighth-largest gas-producing nation in the world and with 70%, of its hydrocarbon gas possession will strengthen the nation\u2019s gradual transition from petrol-powered vehicles to gas\u2013powered transit vehicles.<\/p>\n

Gov. Abdulrazaq called on the private sector to invest in the CNG Bus programme, he emphasized that Universities in Nigeria will be the first beneficiaries of the buses and all state governments will also key into the program<\/p>\n

This is the first major change to come. We all know that apart from having abundant gas resources, I think number eight in the world in gas reserves, gas is a cheaper means of transportation and cheaper means of energy.<\/p>\n

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\n\u201cI remember former President Obasanjo established the Olokola Free Trade Zone because he wanted that zone to be powered by gas solely. So, as we transit forward, I encourage the private sector to invest in this gas programme.<\/p>\n

\u201cI commend the President as well because this programme, aside from kicking off at the Government House, our universities will be the first beneficiaries of the buses and all state governments will also key into this.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, from my state, we\u2019re going to invest massively and encourage our businessmen to invest massively in this transition. I can only praise Mr President that it our dreams are being fulfilled step by step.\u201d The Chairman NGF added.<\/p>\n

Project Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Micheal Oluwagbemi disclosed that State governments have already indicated investment interest in the CNG Buses, he mentioned that the Rivers State Government have already acquired a good number to ease the transportation challenges of the state.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the Cost of Conversion, Oluwagbemi revealed that the current cost of conversion varies from the model and type of vehicle, he added that the President has ensured that as part of P-CNGi, the committee will incentivize the cost for the Nigerian populace.<\/p>\n

The Project coordinator assured that Nigerians will be able to achieve conversion at a lower cost.<\/p>\n

\u201cNigeria is a gas country with a very small quantity of crude oil, The President wants to make sure that the Nigerian public is not subjected to the price of transportation occasioned by international conflagration rather than being able to use the gas that Nigeria produces by Nigerian people such that jobs are also created at home instead of exported abroad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current cost of conversion varies from the model and type of vehicle but the President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, we will look into that cost by helping and incentivizing Nigerians,\u201d Oluwagbemi added.<\/p>\n

He disclosed that immediately, the Federal government ordered 55000 conversion kits as part of the immediate palliative.<\/p>\n

\u201cVarious stakeholders, such as the Labour unions, and mass transit bus operators. Either state or private will be able to benefit from those conversion kits<\/p>\n

Receiving the CNG Buses on behalf of the State House, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olusesan Adebiyi said that the provision of the buses will enhance the efficiency of staff and enhance their punctuality at work<\/p>\n

He assured the P-CNGI and partners that all operational buses of the State House will be converted to gas-powered vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the P-CNGi, I want to assure you to prepare for us because henceforth, all the staff buses we\u2019ll have to buy from you and I can assure you we\u2019ll soon set out to consult you and enter negotiations with you for not just purchase, but also maintenance.<\/p>\n

The State House has some fuel dumps and I want to assure you right away that one of our fuel dumps will be converted to CNG with immediate effect, to guarantee frequent fueling of these I\u2019ve discussed with you as well on the issue of maintenance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to also assure you that we will agree with you because one, this is new in Nigeria, and the spares are not readily available, so why not meet the manufacturers? The fact that these buses were assembled in Nigeria, it\u2019s all Nigeria-made, is one thing that I will not forget in a hurry because as an engineer, I\u2019ve been praying for this to happen and now it\u2019s happening in my lifetime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe provision of this bus will enhance the efficiency of our staff, will enhance their punctuality to work and will also enhance speedy delivery of service in the entire State House. Staff listen to me, you know that I don\u2019t come late, so now you don\u2019t have reason to come late, since buses are available to take you to work.<\/p>\n

Managing Director of OMAA Motors, managing partner of PCNGI, Chinedu Oguegbu lauded the patronage of made-in-Nigeria vehicles by the federal government saying that it is a way of deepening industrialization<\/p>\n

Oguegbu stressed that the deployment of the CNG buses to ease transportation challenges in Nigeria will go beyond the natural gas value chain, he added that it will create thousands of jobs for the youths.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to go beyond the natural gas value-chain, this is going to create thousands of jobs for the youths and not just like basic tech, what we\u2019re talking about natural gas vehicles, as we progress in Nigeria and after coming up, the technology that we\u2019ll develop here, the talents that we\u2019ll build here, we\u2019ll be able to use this and export to other African countries that have similar initiatives.<\/p>\n

The Chief Of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajibiamila officially flagged off the initiative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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