Kogi State receives 10 CNG buses from FG

Kogi State Government Receives 10 CNG Buses to Lower Transportation Costs

The Kogi State Government has been presented with 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from the Federal Government in a bid to alleviate the high transportation costs within the state. The handover event was held on Wednesday in Lokoja.

During the ceremony, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo, represented by Deputy Governor Elder Joel Salihu, praised President Bola Tinubu for this initiative. He emphasized the state’s commitment to participating in efforts aimed at reducing transportation expenses for its citizens.

“The government is focused on achieving this goal through collaboration with all transport unions in Kogi,” Salihu stated. He further revealed plans to support initiatives that would benefit the local population. Additionally, he announced that as part of this initiative, 250 youths across the 21 local government areas in the state would undergo advanced training in areas such as CNG conversion, welding and fabrication, automobile mechatronics, and solar system installation.

“This training program will begin once we finalize the arrangements with our partner, the Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute (NKFI),” he added.

Minister of Steel, Shaibu Audu, also addressed the gathering, highlighting that Tinubu’s Renew Hope agenda is now reaching ordinary citizens. He pointed out that the introduction of CNG vehicles could lead to a 40% reduction in transportation costs, viewing this as a significant positive development, especially given the current economic challenges. Audu remarked that the Ajaokuta Steel Company, being a central gas hub, would play a vital role in this transition.

Micheal Oluwagbemi, the Project Director and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative, stated that the project aims to decrease transportation fares across Nigeria. “The conversion costs will be covered as promised by the Federal Government,” he explained. “We intend to focus on opportunities that ease the burden on the people. All commercial vehicles will undergo free conversion as part of this initiative.”