The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) has delivered 15 CNG and 20 electric buses to Lagos State as part of efforts to reduce the cost of transportation. This move aligns with President Bola Tinubu's directive for states to lower transportation costs. The handover ceremony took place in Lagos, with Tosin Coker, Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, presenting the vehicles to Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
According to Coker, the delivery of these buses is a practical step towards providing cleaner, more efficient, and affordable transportation. He emphasized that the vehicles must be supported by adequate infrastructure, including refueling stations, charging facilities, maintenance capacity, and trained personnel. Coker commended the Lagos State Government's efforts, particularly through the Ibile Oil & Gas Corporation (IOGC), to develop CNG refueling infrastructure. He also mentioned that discussions with the state could extend to cleaner, cheaper energy for water transport.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and highlighted that the buses would offer greater capacity, comfort, and cleaner journeys for commuters. He noted that high-capacity buses could move more commuters with fewer vehicles, potentially reducing waiting times on supported routes. Osiyemi called for more CNG buses and supporting infrastructure from the Federal Government and urged private investors to explore opportunities in fleet financing, leasing, CNG infrastructure, EV charging, maintenance, technology, ticketing, and fleet management.
Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director of LAMATA, mentioned that Lagos currently has about 150 CNG buses, including 36 allocated to operators under LAMATA's regulatory framework. She urged beneficiary operators to deploy and maintain the buses properly and assured residents that LAMATA would provide regulatory oversight. Akinajo's statement emphasizes the importance of proper maintenance and regulation to ensure the buses' effectiveness in enhancing public transportation.
In a related development, the Benue State Government has ordered additional vehicles, including CNG buses, to cut the cost of public transport. Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula, stated that the governor had earlier procured 100 Toyota buses for the state-owned Benue Links Nigeria Limited. The addition of CNG-powered vehicles is expected to heavily subsidize the transport sector and significantly reduce fares in Benue.
According to Kula, Benue is on track to meet the Federal Government's deadline on CNG adoption. The state's efforts to incorporate CNG buses into its fleet align with the Federal Government's initiative to promote cleaner and more affordable transportation. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the state's transportation sector and provide relief to commuters.
The delivery of CNG and electric buses to Lagos and Benue states marks a significant step towards enhancing public transportation in Nigeria. With the right infrastructure and maintenance, these buses have the potential to provide cleaner, more efficient, and affordable transportation options for commuters. The Federal Government's initiative aims to reduce transportation costs and promote sustainable transportation solutions.
Key points
- The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles has delivered 35 buses to Lagos State to enhance public transportation.
- Benue State Government has ordered additional CNG buses to cut the cost of public transport.
- The initiative aims to provide cleaner, more efficient, and affordable transportation options for commuters.
