We need FG CNG in Kebbi, not only in Lagos, Abuja – NGO

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) under the aegis of NANA Girls and Women Empowerments Initiative has appealed to the Federal Government to hasten action on how compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles would be extended to Kebbi State and other states of Nigeria beyond Abuja and Lagos.

They noted that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government triggered the cost of transportation across the country, stressing that the Presidency had promised to lessen the hardship through the introduction of CNG.

While speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Birnin Kebbi, the Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Fatima L. Adamu, who stated this, explained that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government compelled them to welcome the promised introduction of CNG.

Adamu said the central government is yet to implement the CNG transport system to reduce the adverse effects of subsidy removal in some parts of the country.

According to her, “We have noticed only Lagos and Abuja have been able to get the CNG transport system while the remaining states in the country still grapple with huge transportation cost fueled by subsidy removal. As partners in progress,we have engaged the federal ministry of transport along side some ministries in various states to get them to adopt the policy framework we have developed to assist them in implementing the programm.

“A similar consultation were held in Kano, Kaduna and some eastern states and now in Kebbi state where they are engaging Kebbi state ministry for transport and renewable energy hoping to get the government to adopt the policy framework and to ensure implementations”.

In his reaction, on behalf of Kebbi State Government, the Commissioner for Transport and Renewable Energy, Alhaji Bala Gagga, said that Kebbi State is yet to receive CNG buses from the Federal Government, but stressed that the Kauran Gwandu transport initiative has already provided buses across the state to ease the burden of transportation.

He said: ” though the state is yet to receive the federal government CNG buses, Governor Nasir Idris has acted swiftly to address transportation deficit and burden through the provisions of buses at affordable fare to the people of Kebbi state before the federal government release the CNG buses”.