The federal government has handed over 64 compressed natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The buses were presented to the unions on Sunday at the state house conference centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, led the government delegation to the handover ceremony.
The delegation included Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, Abubakar Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, and Ayodele Olawande, minister of state for youth development.
Speaking at the event, Edun said when deployed for commuter service, the buses would significantly reduce transportation costs in the country, bringing hope for a more affordable and efficient public transport system.
He described the distribution of the buses as fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi) to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies.
He said the initiative is aimed at alleviating the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability.
The minister further said the symbolic handover of 64 buses on the eve of Nigeria’s National Day marked the beginning of a broader national rollout.
He said the federal government planned to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the first instance.
“The CNG initiative aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy while leveraging its energy resources for industrialisation,” he said.
