Subsidy: Concerns Over Non-availability Of CNG Buses For Public Transportation

The Presidential Committee on Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) is currently facing hurdles, raising concerns about the sincerity of President Bola Tinubu administration about the initiative to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal.

The P-CNGi, established to promote the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to traditional fuels, is now facing criticisms for what some Nigerians perceived as a lacklustre implementation strategy.

As the nation strives to transition to cleaner energy sources, the P-CNGi was envisioned as a key player in driving this shift. However, findings by LEADERSHIP showed that implementation progress has been slow, with challenges ranging from insufficient infrastructure to a perceived lack of coordination among concerned stakeholders.

Critics argued that the initiative requires a more proactive approach to address the existing bureaucratic bottlenecks. The success of such an ambitious project hinges on effective collaboration between the government, private sector, and relevant agencies. Observers noted that without a more concerted effort, the potential benefits of transitioning to CNG may remain unrealised.

In response to the concerns, the Presidency has emphasised its commitment to the P-CNGi’s objectives and outlined ongoing measures to overcome the challenges.

However, some stakeholders in the industry have labelled the initiative a mere cosmetic exercise. They said the buses launched at the various CNG Conversion Centres in Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and other places across the country were never available on the streets afterwards for public use. They alleged that the CNG buses were taken back to the Presidential Villa after the launch, fuelling question about the judicious use of humongous sums of money allocated to the project.

“The vehicles used for display at the most of the conversion centers were taken from local car dealers with promise of buying but unfortunately the whole procurement has been giving to a young boy close to the Minister of Finance and the Villa and was paid in advance last week leaving the local dealers’ hope hanging,” said a source who did not want to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the development.

Also, an insider in the P-CNGi secretariat in Abuja, said: “The local dealers were issued letters too but the letters were a charade in order to give them hope before making available vehicles to deceive Nigerians and later gave the contarct to their crony who has reliably travelled to Asia to import (vehicles) after receiving money.”

Meanwhile, despite the Tinubu administration’s assurances, there is a growing call for increased transparency in the P-CNGi’s operations. Stakeholders, including environmentalists, industry experts, and the general public, were seeking more information on the specific steps being taken to overcome obstacles and achieve the initiative’s goals.

The success of the P-CNGi is not only crucial for environmental sustainability but also for the economic benefits it promises, including reduced fuel costs and job creation within the burgeoning natural gas sector. As the nation grapples with energy challenges, the effective implementation of the P-CNGi is viewed as pivotal in shaping the future of Nigeria’s energy landscape.

In the coming months, all eyes will be on the P-CNGi and the steps taken by President Tinubu administration to address the identified shortcomings. The success or failure of this initiative will undoubtedly have lasting implications for Nigeria’s energy policies and its pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future.

LEADERSHIP recalls that one of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Organised Labour and Federal Government some weeks ago includes provision of CNG buses for workers transportation in order to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal by President Tinubu administration.