PHOTOS: Tinubu inaugurates 30 locally assembled CNG buses

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated 30 hybrid power compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

In a post on X, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, said the buses were inaugurated on Monday at the State House in Abuja.

Onanuga said the CNG buses were donated by Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

“Twenty of the buses were donated by Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), while NNPC donated 10,” Onanuga said.

The special adviser said the buses — with the capacity to transport 3,000 passengers — were assembled locally by Innoson Motors.

Also, in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Tinubu said utilising natural gas to power the nation’s transportation industry would reduce transportation costs, enhance productivity, and save the nation trillions of naira spent on the importation of petrol and diesel.

”If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we would definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people,” Tinubu said.

”These CNG buses are promising and will enhance our transportation system.”

‘COMMERCIAL VEHICLES CONSUME 80% OF NIGERIA’S PETROL DEMAND’

Speaking on the level of petrol consumption in Nigeria, Tinubu said commercial vehicles account for about 80 percent of the nation’s petroleum demand, adding that several countries have switched to CNG for their transportation systems and are already reaping the benefits.

“Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 percent of our petroleum demand, costing us trillions of naira every month,” the president said.

“The solution is here. We have it. We will work on it. We promise you, definitely, things will get better. Prosperity will be achieved.”

Tinubu also commended Innoson Motors for its commitment to the CNG initiative.

Also speaking at the inauguration, Winifred Akpani, chairperson of DAPPMAN, expressed her association’s support for the administration’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s transportation system.

Akpani said it would lead to lower transportation costs.

”This batch of hybrid buses, which DAPPMAN is donating to the federal government, is in furtherance to our support for this administration’s resolve to address Nigeria’s energy challenges,” she said.

“We are proud to note that these buses have been designed, manufactured, and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company.”

On August 8, Innocent Chukwuma, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Innoson Motors, visited the president and discussed the company’s pioneering work in CNG vehicles.

Chukwuma said there are ongoing partnerships between the government and Innoson Motors, promising that the brand would soon be visible nationwide.

He expressed confidence that the government’s focus on CNG is a transformative initiative for Nigeria, pledging that CNG buses will soon be on the roads.

The federal government started canvassing for the adoption of CNG after the president announced the end of subsidised premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, on May 29, 2023.

On July 31, 2023, Tinubu said his administration made provision to invest N100 billion in the acquisition of 3,000 units of 20-seater buses powered by CNG.

Three weeks later, Tinubu announced the establishment of the CNG initiative, after which, the federal government announced that value-added tax (VAT) would be waived on CNG bus purchases, with plans to waive duty on parts.

Also, to push for the adoption of CNG, on May 13, the federal executive council (FEC) directed all agencies to procure CNG-powered vehicles.

Photos from the inauguration on Monday: