As part of efforts to cushion the effect of removal subsidy on cost of transportation, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it is partnering with TVS brand of tricycles for assemblage and mass production of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered tricycles.
He said the federal government is accelerating the process of bringing in several thousands of CNG-powered buses into the country ameliorates the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Director General NOA Mallam Lanre Isah –Onilu stated this on Friday at a press conference at the headquarters of the agency in Abuja.
“The federal government is putting in place about 10 thousand Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations across the country. As we speak federal government is accelerating the process of bringing in several thousands of CNG-powered buses into the country.
“Federal government is putting in place about 10 thousand CNG filling stations across the country. We all know how essential KekeNapep has become especially for the people living in the rural areas; millions of Nigerians rely on KekeNapep. And so, it is a thing of joy that we have a local assembly plant for KekeNapep powered by CNG as part of the immediate solution to reduce the difficulties that we have all faced over this issue.
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“We have the privilege of associating with that, and as our mandate dictates which is to communicate government policies and projects, and enlighten the public about all of this. We have here today, a company that is already thinking ahead, and keyed into the federal government policy, of providing this alternative arrangement, the CNG-powered KekeNapep.
“As an agency, one of the structures we have and operations nationwide, in all the states and FCT, and 774 local government Areas, that will also come in as a very important tool for us, because we will be working towards securing at least one for each local government for our community orientation and mobilization officers to be able to do their work. As of today, it is also difficult for them to move around to support the system, the government, and the citizens for all the education and the enlightenment that they require to get by on a daily basis. So we are also keying into this, looking at how we can provide this for all our offices nationwide” he said.
In his remarks, chief executive ECOMEAD ACRES Kayode Oyin-Zubair said the project will crash the price of transportation in the country especially among those in the lower class.
Just about the time the decision was taken by the federal government, we wore our thinking and started thinking about how we can key in as a player in the industry.
“CNG is the most environmentally friendly now because it will cut the smoke to about 30 percent. It is also cost effective. Averagely it is about 230 Naira today, you can compare that with what is available today. Putting all these together, we can conveniently say that this will ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians in rural communities, “ he said.
