KEY POINTS
- Nigeria to lower transport costs using CNG.
- Fares could drop up to 40% after vehicle conversions.
- The government expects national implementation by October.
The Nigerian government has declared that transport fares are set to be reduced by 40% through the development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Its primary purpose is to make travelling less expensive for all individuals, as we witness fuel costs increase.
CNG to make transportation affordable
At a meeting held in Abuja, officials signed a memorandum with the transport unions to advance the use of CNG for commercial automobiles.
CNG, a clean fuel compared to petrol will help save costs for drivers and passengers. As widely publicised earlier, under the plan, fares for the eight-seater from Abuja to Ajaokuta will come down from ₦12,000 to ₦7,000 and from ₦13,000 to ₦8,000 for four-passenger cars.
Inspections are already being conducted for the programme while converting vehicles to operate on CNG will begin shortly. Top government officials have said that transit fares should be lower by the end of October.
Converting vehicles for big savings
To ease the change, ten conversion centres have been established in Abuja, Itakpe and Ajaokuta. More centres are on the way.
The initiative is intended to cut costs for drivers and passengers, as well as generally lessen the amount of pollution.
According to a report by Punch, the director of the CNG programme, Michael Oluwagbemi, insisted that new CNG-powered vehicles will be cheaper, cleaner and safer. Further, he pointed out that operators willing to convert their cars will save their money whilst still serving the passengers.
This is supported by the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW. They pledge to implement the new, lower fares into action for everyone’s benefit.
