FG kick off free CNG conversion for transport workers

By Mariam Abeeb

The Federal Government, has officially begins free conversion of petrol and diesel-powered commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas across the nation.

It could be recalled that the federal government signed an agreements with various companies involved in the conversion of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to operate on CNG.

Every commercial transporters under their different unions including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, and Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, among others, would benefit from this.

Earlier, the Programme Director/Chief Executive, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this to journalists after the government agency signed agreements with various companies in Abuja.

He said, “Today we’ve just signed with five partners with us here in the Federal Capital Territory that are participating in the Conversion Incentive Programme.

“The programme is tackling the barrier to Nigerian commercial transport operators to convert from PMS (petrol) to gas. Most of them have said that the cost of conversion is expensive, and so what we are doing here today is basically to respond to that concern.

“ First and foremost, for commercial operators that are unionised, I’m talking about the members of RTEAN, NARTO, and NURTW, through their unions they can benefit 100 per cent discount. That is, they will get the kits for free and installation will also be done for them for free.

The business and development and strategy officer, Presidential CNG Initiative, Omalara Obileye in an interview with pressmen during the media tour to some conversion centres in Abuja explained that the scheme is starting from Abuja and Lagos , and will keep rolling to other states.

She added that there are over 120 conversion centers in Abuja, while over 12 Centers in Abuja , which will keep updating .

“The Today we are at the conversion center where we have started conversion for commercial vehicles. The first one that we have seen is from the E hailing cabs that are part of the conversion scheme. The ailing cabs are supposed to pay a fraction of the cost of the conversion. While the transport associations have 100% conversion free and cost of the kits 100% free.

“ So there we have started and the scheme is going to run in around the Federation. We’re starting with Abuja today, and Lagos and we’ll keep rolling out and the announcements we made regularly as we go to each of the states.

“We intend to cover nationwide and to convert over a million cars, like I said, by just starting the scheme, the period of within the first 12 months. The cost of conversion, the cost of conversion is free to transport associations, cost of goods is free, cost of conversion is free. For E hailing cubs, they are paying a fraction of the cost of the keys and they are paying 100% on the cost of conversion.