Tinubu rolls out locally-made CNG buses to ease transportation

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, unveiled some Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the unveiling, the Chairman of Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Winifred Akpani, described the development as a game changer for the transport sector.

Recall that Tinubu had assured Nigerians that the buses would ease transportation challenges, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It was gathered that in the first phase of procurement, 30 buses were acquired from Innoson Motors, an indigenous vehicle manufacturing firm.

At the symbolic ceremony, performed at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu disclosed that commercial vehicles in Nigeria made up about 80 per cent of petrol consumption, costing the country trillions of naira each month.

Five of the CNG buses were driven to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, where the President officially unveiled them for public use.

CNG buses were part of the demands by the organised Labour, following the removal of subsidy by the Federal Government on May 29, 2023.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, last week, met with President Tinubu at the State House, where the duo were said to have perfected the procurement processes.

Unveiling the buses, Tinubu said: “I am very honoured to be here, it is a great expression for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government and making a significant innovation to transportation system.

“I noted recent yearnings of many ordinary Nigerians on transportation. I thank Innoson Motors and others we have been committed to change this narrative in this country.

“If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we would definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.”

Describing the unveiling of the buses as a game changer for the transport sector, Akpani said: “We are very proud to say these buses have been designed, manufactured and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company in Nnewi.

“These are hybrid buses that will run on CNG. Each of these buses are capable of transporting 100 people and they also have alternative use of diesel.

“We continue to assure this government of our full support as marketers. We will continue to go the extra mile to ease the problems of all of us not just the downtrodden but everybody.”