Renewed Hope As FG Launches CNG Buses

The Federal Government in fulfilling one of its promises to cushion the effect of the removal of petroleum subsidy, launched the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) with seven conversion centres across Nigeria.

The Chief Of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday flagged off the initiative at the State House, Abuja.

In a symbolic handover of the CNG buses to the State House, the Chairman of the Presidential CNG Initiative Steering Committee, Zacch Adedeji, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Mr Farouk Ahmed, announced that the government had waived the Value Added Tax on the CNG buses purchase as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain, saying the goal was to build a sustainable future, leveraging Nigeria’s available cheap and clean energy source, which is gas.

He also disclosed that plans are underway for the government to establish multiple conversion centres across the Country in the next two weeks.

Project Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Micheal Oluwagbemi, said state governments had already indicated investment interest in the CNG buses, adding that Rivers State Government has already acquired a good number to ease the transportation challenges of the state.