Afrigather The Presidency on Sunday stated it was able to launch about 2,700 CNG-powered buses and tricycles earlier than Might 29 when President Bola Tinubu turns one 12 months in workplace.
It stated the Federal Authorities is about to ship 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling websites unfold throughout 18 states earlier than the top of 2024.
The Particular Adviser to the President on Info and Technique, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a press release he signed Sunday titled ‘Presidential CNG initiative set for rollout.’
“From the top of Might, Nigeria will take some child steps to hitch such nations that have already got giant fleets of CNG automobiles.
“All is now prepared for supply of the primary set of important property for deployment and launch of the CNG initiative forward of the primary anniversary of the Tinubu administration on Might 29.
“About 2,500 of the tricycles might be prepared earlier than Might 29, 2024…working in direction of delivering 200 models earlier than the primary anniversary of the Tinubu administration,” stated the Presidency.
It added that in all, over 600 buses are focused for manufacturing within the first section which might be achieved in 2024.
In October 2023, about 5 months after the removing of the petrol subsidy, President Tinubu launched the Presidential CNG Initiative to ship cheaper, safer and extra climate-friendly power.
The CNG Initiative was designed to ship compressed pure fuel, particularly for mass transit.
The Federal Authorities earmarked N100bn (a part of the N500bn palliative finances) to buy 5500 CNG automobiles (buses and tricycles), 100 Electrical buses and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, with plans to develop CNG refilling stations and electrical charging stations nationwide.
The FG had stated the initiative would ease the burden of the elevated pump worth on the lots.
“After months of detailed planning and background work, the committee driving the initiative is about to ship on President Tinubu’s imaginative and prescient and promise,” Onanuga affirmed.
A part of Sunday’s announcement was the creation of a brand new plant on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that can assemble the tricycles whereas Sensible EV will assemble electrical automobiles when it receives the Semi Knocked Down elements.
The Presidency defined additional, “The SKD elements manufactured by the Chinese language firm LUOJIA in partnership with its native associate to help the consortium of native suppliers of CNG tricycles are set for cargo to Nigeria and anticipated to reach early in Might.
“In collaboration with the non-public sector, the PCNGI is about to ship 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling websites unfold throughout 18 states earlier than the top of this 12 months.”
4 crops owned by JET, Mikano, Mojo, and Sensible EV positioned in numerous elements of the nation are concerned within the meeting of the semi-knocked-down elements of the CNG buses, Onanuga revealed.
He added “JET, which has acquired the SKD elements is coupling the buses in Lagos and is working in direction of delivering 200 models earlier than the primary anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
“Sensible EV will assemble electrical automobiles. It’s awaiting the SKD elements, which can arrive in the end. The electrical automobiles it should produce are meant for states reminiscent of Kano and Borno, which wouldn’t have entry to CNG for now.
“They may also be accessible in key Nigerian cities and college campuses. It have to be famous that soon-to-be-completed fuel pipeline tasks initiated by the Buhari administration and being accomplished by NNPCL (the AKK Pipeline) will take fuel into the hinterlands of North East and North West the place there’s a present paucity.”
Onanuga stated the deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the imaginative and prescient to get not less than a million pure gas-propelled automobiles on our roads by 2027 will mark a serious power transition in our nation’s transportation business.
With obligatory tax and responsibility waivers permitted by President Tinubu in December 2023, the PCNGI committee is partnering with the non-public sector to ship the promise on the initiative, he defined additional.
Subsequently, the non-public sector has up to now responded with over $50m in precise investments in refuelling stations, conversion centres and mom stations.
Additionally, a security coverage doc on 80 requirements and rules that have to be strictly adhered to by operators has been developed and permitted to make sure CNG conversions are carried out safely and reliably.
The FG additionally plans to promote hundreds of conversion kits for petrol-powered buses and taxis that need to migrate to CNG at subsidised charges, particularly to business car drivers to carry down the price of public transportation.
The Presidency stated as a part of non-public sector collaboration, NIPCO and BOVAS are concerned in providing refilling providers for the CNG automobiles and likewise serving as conversion centres.
“NIPCO is organising 32 stations nationwide to supply the providers. The corporate has accomplished the set-up of 4 of the CNG stations.
“Likewise, BOVAS is organising eight stations in Ibadan, two every in Ekiti, Abuja and 4 in Ilorin. MRS can be concerned.
“It’s making efforts to announce the place its refilling stations and conversion centres might be,” the Presidential aide defined.
The NNPC Restricted which had launched an on-and-off CNG initiative previously can be becoming a member of the brand new initiative and is anticipated to quickly announce the places for CNG refilling and CNG conversion centres nationwide.
As well as, the PCNGI is working with 22 different company companions, together with the Requirements Organisation of Nigeria and Nigeria Automotive Design and Improvement Council to ship 80 Pure Gasoline Automobile Conversion and Related Home equipment Requirements for the nation.
For correct monitoring, Onanuga acknowledged that the Presidential CNG Initiative may also launch MYCNG.NG App.
The app will embed the Nigeria Gasoline Automobile Monitoring Programs, which can present CNG conversion and refuelling websites within the nation.
“The imaginative and prescient of Mr. President to ship a million fuel automobiles can’t be doable with out the non-public sector, together with the RTEAN, NARTO, NURTW, and gamers within the downstream sector of the transportation chain and financiers,” the assertion concluded.
