By Egena Sunday Ode
The Federal Government has announced the establishment of seven conversion centres across the country as it flaged off the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) on Friday.
The Chief Of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajibiamila officially flagged off the initiative.
Handing over 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 government has waived the Value Added Tax on the CNG buses purchase as well as duty waivers for value-chain.
According to him, the goal is to build a sustainable future, leveraging Nigeria’s available cheap and clean energy source, which is gas, disclosing that plans were underway for the government to establish multiple conversion centres across the country in the next two weeks.
“Moreover, it is my pleasure as your Chief Tax Officer, a position I hold alongside as Chairman of this initiative, to announce that we will be waiving the Value Added Tax on CNG purchases as well as seeking duty waivers for value-chain. The goal is to build a sustainable future, leveraging our own cheap and clean energy source gas,” Adedeji said.
He noted that the project was currently about the conversion of vehicles, while it also generated employment opportunities, emphasizing that the delivery of the CNG project demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to both environmental sustainability and economic growth in Nigeria.
Accordingly, he implored Nigerians to consider the buses as a symbol of a new beginning, “a journey towards the future, where the power of tomorrow starts today. Let this be a beacon for our country, Nigeria, and an inspiration to the world.
Also speaking, Project Director of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Engr. Micheal Oluwagbemi, disclosed that State governments had already indicated investment interest in the CNG buses, with the Rivers State Government acquiring a good number to ease the transportation challenges in the state.
The Project coordinator assured that Nigerians will be able to achieve conversion at low cost.
“Nigeria is a gas country with a very small quantity of crude oil, The President wants to make sure that the Nigerian public is not subjected to the price of transportation occasioned by international conflagration rather than being able to use the gas that Nigeria produces by Nigerian people such that jobs are also created at home instead of exported abroad.
“The current cost of conversion varies from the model and type of vehicle but the President has ensured that as part of PCNGI, we will look into that cost by helping and incentivizing Nigerians,” Oluwagbemi added.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said Nigeria is the eighth-largest gas-producing nation in the world and with 70%, of its hydrocarbon gas possession will strengthen the nation’s gradual transition from petrol-powered vehicles to gas–powered transit vehicles.
Gov. Abdulrazaq called on the private sector to invest in the CNG Bus programme, he emphasized that Universities in Nigeria will be the first beneficiaries of the buses and all state governments will also key into the program
He said; “This is the first major change to come. We all know that apart from having abundant gas resources, I think number eight in the world in gas reserves, gas is a cheaper means of transportation and cheaper means of energy.
“I remember former President Obasanjo established the Olokola Free Trade Zone because he wanted that zone to be powered by gas solely. So, as we transit forward, I encourage the private sector to invest in this gas programme. I commend the president as well because this programme, aside from kicking off at the Government House, our universities will be the first beneficiaries of the buses and all state governments will also key into this.
“Also, from my state, we’re going to invest massively and encourage our businessmen to invest massively in this transition. I can only praise Mr President that it our dreams are being fulfilled step by step,” the NGF Chairman added.
Receiving the CNG Buses on behalf of the State House, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olusesan Adebiyi said that the provision of the buses will enhance the efficiency of staff and enhance their punctuality at work
He assured the P-CNGI and partners that all operational buses of the State House will be converted to gas-powered vehicles.
“For the P-CNGi, I want to assure you to prepare for us because henceforth, all the staff buses we’ll have to buy from you and I can assure you we’ll soon set out to consult you and enter negotiations with you for not just purchase, but also maintenance,” he said.
Managing Director of OMAA Motors, managing partner of PCNGI, Chinedu Oguegbu lauded the patronage of made-in-Nigeria vehicles by the federal government saying that it is a way of deepening industrialization.
