President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja inaugurated 30 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses, capable of transporting 3,000 passengers daily.
These locally manufactured buses were donated to the federal government by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
During the inauguration, President Tinubu emphasized that utilizing natural gas to power the nation’s transportation sector would significantly reduce costs, enhance productivity, and save trillions of naira currently spent on importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He stressed that enhancing energy competitiveness and bringing about transformative changes like this are crucial steps toward achieving national prosperity.
He also highlighted that commercial vehicles account for approximately 80 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum demand, noting that countries like India have successfully mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. The President expressed confidence that adopting CNG-powered buses in Nigeria would lead to substantial economic benefits and improved transportation systems.
President Tinubu commended Innoson Motors for its dedication to the CNG initiative, praising the company’s commitment to manufacturing vehicles that align with his administration’s goals for energy sustainability.
In her remarks, Dame Winifred Akpani, Chairperson of DAPPMAN, reaffirmed her association’s support for the government’s efforts to improve the transportation system, noting that it would lead to reduced transportation costs.
She emphasized that the donation of these hybrid buses is part of DAPPMAN’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges and highlighted that the buses were designed, manufactured, and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company.
The inauguration of these hybrid CNG-powered buses marks a significant step toward transforming Nigeria’s transportation sector, focusing on sustainability, cost efficiency, and enhanced productivity.
