FG to provide gas-powered buses to organised labour starting first quarter 2021
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has disclosed that the Federal government will be providing over 1,000 gas-powered buses to organised labour starting from the first quarter of 2021.
This announcement was made during the launch of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) by President Muhammadu Buhari. The minister further mentioned that in the first quarter, it will start with over 100 buses and the number will increase over the months.
“We would start in the first quarter of next year with over 100 buses and we would continue to incrementally add the buses until we get to that number,” Chief Timipre Sylva stated.
To further drive the gas-powered buses plan, the minister noted that one million conversion kits will be provided so motorists who want to convert their vehicle can drive into the conversion centres and convert their vehicles for free. Chief Timipre Sylva highlighted that for as long as motorists will choose to convert their vehicles to mainly autogas or dual has, the conversion programme will continue for an unspecified period of time.
Additionally, he said in all 36 states and the FCT, some filling stations will begin installing facilitates for gas products and be enabled for conversion capabilities. While Engineer Sarki Auwalu, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) revealed that out of the 31,000 filling stations in Nigeria, 9,000 had been selected to dispense autogas. This includes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG).
However, it will be mandatory for petrol stations with the capacity to install autogas facilitates to do so as this will be an important licensing requirement hence adding to the selected 9,000 filling stations.
“The availability of autogas as an alternative fuel option will afford Nigerians cheaper, a cleaner and the additional choice of fuel, cheaper than the price of PMS, cleaner for our environment, better for our automobiles and other engines,” Chief Timipre Sylva concluded.
While this seems like a good initiative by the Federal Government, it remains to be seen how this will catch and its receptiveness from motorists across Nigeria.
