• Tinubu to unveil FCT conversion centre tomorrow
The Kwara State government, yesterday, launched the conversion and installation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles in Ilorin.
The initiative, described by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as safer and cheaper to others run on petrol, was acclaimed to be the first of its kind in Nigeria.
Speaking at the official launch of Rolling Energy, the station undertaking the conversion, AbdulRazaq disclosed that the state government had converted 20 of its petrol-engine vehicles to natural gas automobiles, adding that more would soon be added to the number.
According to him, the breathtaking exercise is an offshoot of excessive reliance on petrol, addressed by President Bola Tinubu when he announced oil subsidy removal last year.
His words: “What we are witnessing today is the beginning of a new future, marking our new lifestyle.”
“This is the direct benefit of oil subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu,” adding that between last year and now, the President had backed natural gas over petrol.
“We have converted 20 government vehicles to CNG for test-driving. We shall convert all in few months,” he assured.
Noting that the exercise would create more jobs, especially for the youths, the governor assured residents that the conversion is safer and cheaper.
Speaking earlier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rolling Energy, Mubarak Danbata, enjoined Nigerians to embrace the Presidential Conversion of Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), which he described as the in-thing.
He said: “I am free to announce our readiness for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reduce our dependency on petrol.
“We are poised to join the government to increase resilience to provide reliable services to the state,” adding that the station is capable of converting six petrol vehicles to CNG daily.
“PBAT’s initiative reflects our joint commitment to lift the nation. This is a sufficient energy future collaboration; it is all about securing a new future for the generation yet unborn,” Danbata added.
The coordinator of PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, urged the citizenry to identify with and commend the President for his foresight and determination to take the country several miles into the future.
He observed that the state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in PCNGI’s mission to drive sustainable energy solutions across Nigeria.
The initial phase of the conversion programme would be held in Lagos, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State.
The phase is being executed in partnership with major transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
To ensure the success of the programme, PCNGI said the rollout would commence in eight out of over 120 designated conversion workshop sites, with the partners having the opportunity to observe and evaluate the conversion process for germane feedback.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu will, tomorrow commission the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering and Training Centre built by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre, located in the Utako District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited, and a state-of-the-art facility for conversion of fossil fuel vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative.
Speaking at the pre-launch briefing yesterday in Abuja, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu noted that the project marks another milestone in the efforts of the agency to ensure the actualisation of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly on sustainable energy alternatives and a clean energy ecosystem.
