August 12, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has said utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go and an economic necessity Nigerians should embrace.
The President spoke on Monday, at the State House, Abuja, when he formally commissioned 30 Innoson Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses donated to the Federal Government.
THEWILL reports that twenty of the buses were donated by Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), while the NNPC donated 10.
The locally made vehicles (Innoson), with the capacity to carry 100 passengers each, are hybrid powered, such that they can alternatively run on diesel if the situation demands.
Underscoring the importance of embracing the CNG-powered transportation system, Tinubu noted that countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004 and that in Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 percent of the petrol demand, which costs the country trillions of naira each month.
“It is a great inspiration for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government, making it a significant innovation to the transportation system.
“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go. The solution is here. We have it and we will work on it. We promise you things will get better and prosperity will be achieved.
“For many countries, especially Nigeria, with our own gas, we will work harder with productive and innovative ideas. It is an economic necessity that we should embrace,” the President said.
He also lauded Innoson Motors and other members of DAPPMAN “who have been committed to change the narratives in Nigeria”.
Chairman of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Winifred Akpani, noted that the buses were designed, manufactured and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company in Nnewi, Anambra State while assuring the President that DAPPMAN will continue to go extra mile to ease the problems of not just the down-trodden but all Nigerians.
The DAPPMAN Chairman also hinted that more donations would be made in subsequent phases.
“We believe that these buses will be put to use, especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity. I’d like to state that as part of our delivery, we’ve made provision that each of these buses will have two drivers and we are going to have them trained at the facility where they have been manufactured,” said Akpani.
