The acting president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alh Issa Ore, has said the cost of transportation would reduce significantly if owners of commercial vehicles embrace compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to petroleum.
He noted that the astronomical cost of fuel arising from subsidy removal has taken tolls on both the transporters and commuters, hence the urgent need to convert vehicles that hitherto used fuel to CNG.
Ore spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday at the unveiling of NURTW Zone 4 secretariat in honour of the former president of the union, Alh Najeem Yasin.
Ore, explained that while a litre of petroleum costs over N1000, the cost of compressed natural gas is between N120 and N200 per kilogram.
“If this initiative is fully rolled out, I believe the cost of transportation will decrease significantly. Currently, we are buying PMS at over N1000 per litre, while CNG is expected to range between N120 to N200. This will certainly lead to a reduction in transportation costs, benefiting the masses”, Ore said.
He noted that the federal government has offered each state of the federation 100 kits used to convert vehicles to CNG, which he described as relatively cheap.
He disclosed that conversion of vehicles took off in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo, adding that 85 commercial vehicles had already been converted in Abuja.
“The government has promised to provide 100 kits free of charge to each state and has already signed agreements with multiple converters. This process has already begun in Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, and the FCT, where I am currently based. In fact, over 85 conversions have already been completed here.
“One of the beneficiaries, the FCT secretary of NURTW even went on air via NTA to confirm this. Agreements have also been signed with Kogi State, and in the next few weeks, Kwara State will be included in the programme,” he added.
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