By Chris Agabi
The federal government has handed over 15 CNG-powered buses to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) as part of the President’s Renewed Hope Clean Energy Transport Scheme, an initiative designed to ease the burden of fuel subsidy removal.
This is coming about eighteen months since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended the fuel Subsidy regime and made the promise for a mass transit opportunity to alleviate the pangs of fuel subsidy removal.
Presenting the business to the three unions in Abuja at a ceremony, the Minister of Transport Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali said the “buses symbolize the government’s commitment to empowering citizens while transitioning to a cleaner energy economy.”
According to him, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative is a bold statement of Nigeria’s intent to take control of its resources and utilize them for the benefit of its people.
“We have been exporting our raw materials for decades only to import finished goods at a premium. We exported crude oil and imported refined petroleum; we exported palm oil, cocoa, and rubber and imported soap, chocolate, and tires. The time has come to break this cycle” he noted.
He further indicated that “president Tinubu has made it clear that we will not continue to export our gas only to import products like fertilizers or other derivatives. Instead, we will harness our gas to power our economy.”
“Nations like Japan, which import our gas, has demonstrated its transformative potentials. They use gas to drive their transportation sector, reduce their reliance on petrol, and export vehicles like Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi to countries like ours. Why shouldn’t Nigerians benefit from the resources beneath our soil?” He asked.
“I am glad to state that by transitioning to compressed natural gas, we are cutting down on carbon emissions, reducing the cost of fuel for transportation operators, and enabling the growth of a cleaner and more efficient transportation system” the Minister said.
He further remarked that the buses that are being handed over are not just vehicles—they are tools for change.
“They represent a commitment to sustainable growth, economic empowerment, and a greener future. I call on the unions—NURTW, RTEAN, and NARTO—to ensure these buses are used effectively and maintained properly. This is not just about today but about creating a transportation system that will serve generations to come.”
