Delta State government has said the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations in Asaba and Warri are on course as construction of the CNG stations is underway.
The state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIPCO to set them up.
The commissioner for Transport, Mr. Onoriode Agofure, made this known in Asaba while commenting on the pace of work at the construction sites for the CNG stations.
He said work was ongoing at the CNG site in Asaba and that he regularly visits the two sites for inspection to ensure that the gas company keeps to the terms of the MoU.
The commissioner assured that NIPCO would deliver the CNG filling stations as expected. “It will please me to inform you that work has commenced and is ongoing rapidly. I visit the site once a week to follow up on the level of work that is being done.
“I am very pleased with what I am seeing so far; I am very sure that they will meet the timeline that they gave. As for the one in Warri, that one is waiting equipment, and they have confirmed to me that it will be fully operational next month,” he assured.
On the conversion of fuel-used vehicles to CNG vehicles, he said NIPCO is building a conversion centre in the CNG filling station here in Asaba, which is under construction, but he promised to find out if there is a conversion centre in Warri.
”I will try as much as possible to see how we can even donate conversion kits to transporters and to people who actually need them.
There will be criteria that will be met before that process begins.
”It is very expensive actually to convert a vehicle. It’s about a million naira basic amount. When time comes, I will see how we can access the 2025 budget votes for conversion to CNG vehicles for maybe for civil servants and others”.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government had received 900 life jackets from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
He hinted that the 900 life jackets were the first batch of the 3,500 life jackets being expected in the collaboration between the Delta State government and the federal government.
Mr Agofure said the second and third batches of the life jackets were expected next month, describing the collaboration as key to safety in the maritime sector.
He urged users of waterways to be safety-conscious to minimise the rate of casualties during boat mishaps.
