The Federal Government on Wednesday delivered 10 Compressed Natural Gas powered buses to Kogi State Government.
The CNG buses from the Presidential Initiative is part of the efforts to bring down the high cost of transportation.
The Programme Director and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Micheal Oluwagbemi handed over the buses at the launching of the Conversion Incentive Programme in Lokoja on Wednesday.
The event was attended by Kogi State Deputy Governor, Elder Joel Salihu, who represented the State Governor, Mr. Usman Ododo and the Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shaibu Abubakar Audu among other top government functionaries.
Mr. Oluwagbemi explained that the launching of this CNG Conversion Programme is worthy of celebration because of the many benefit associated with it.
He noted that this was the federal government intervention for the Transport workers to ameliorate the suffering of the people in line President Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians.
The Programme Director pointed out that the Presidential CNG initiative is aimed at reducing the cost transportation following the removal of oil subsidy in the county.
He stated that the opportunities have landed in Kogi State for the people to get their vehicles converted at a subsidized cost of about 40%.
He called on the people of the State to take advantage of the of conversion incentive programme to reduce the high cost of living in Kogo State.
The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Elder Salihu, while launching the buses, commended the efforts of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the initiative.
He explained that the state has already keyed into the initiative to reduce high of transportation in the state, noting that no fewer that 250 youths would be trained on CNG through Nigeria /KoreaFriendship Institute (NKF) in Lokoja.
“Our administration is determined to achieve that through our synergy with all the road unions transport in the state. Under this new initiative, 250 youths selected from across the 21 local government councils of the state will be provided with cutting-edge training in critical areas such as CNG conversion, welding and fabrication, automobile mechatronics, solar system installation, and more,” he said.
Also speaking during the launching, the Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shaibu Abubakar Audu said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has been brought to the door step of the masses in Kogi State .
Audu stated that reduction of 40 percent in transportation through CNG vehicles is a good development, stressing that the economy was at the verge of collapsing and that is the reason Mr. President took a decision to address the situation.
“Ajaokuta Steel Company will play a significant role as Ajaokuta is a hub for gas which will be translated to others,” he said.
