27th July, 2023
Adejoke Adeleye, Ogun
Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun has said his administration is ready to convert 2000 state owned mass transit buses from use of petrol to use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
The Governor made this revelation in an interview with newsmen after inspecting first successfully converted diesel and petrol bus at the state Secretariat Okemosan, Abeokuta, the state capital on Thursday.
He added that to ensure sure smooth take off of the process, CNG stations would be positioned along bus routes across the state.
The Governor noted that the positioning of the fuel stations for compressed natural gas along bus routes would ensure the sustainability of the project.
Abiodun also added that the abundance of gas in the state is a major factor that would aid the smooth transition.
He added that conversions of buses are currently ongoing in the state, stating that his administration is currently looking at how to convert 2000 State owned mass transit buses at its expense.
“Obviously as we proceed, we will be positioning our CNG centres on the bus routes, conveniently located so that the buses can refill from time to time.
“Luckily for us in Ogun State, we have an abundance of gas, Ogun State has a crisscross of pipelines, be it Elf, be it West African Gas Pipeline, that explains why we have a proliferation of industries in Ogun State.
“So today, this bus has been successfully converted, and the conversion of other buses are also in progress, the plan is to first convert the state-owned buses and then begin the conversion of all mass transit buses that are even owned by the private sector.
“We will be converting the buses at our expense, if we don’t do that, the owners of the buses will not be able to afford the cost of the conversion, so the state has decided to take on that cost and find a way out for them to repay the expense over the years.
“We are already thinking of how many gangs we need to have and how quickly we can complete the conversion of close to maybe 2000 buses in the state, and in the next three weeks, government will launch its E-mobility programme
Earlier in his remarks, the Head of the team, Nigeria Gas Transportation Solution Limited, Milind Dakhole, disclosed that the buses have been fitted with tanks that would allow them to travel about 150 kilometres on CNG.
He noted that the buses are safe for usage.