President Bola Tinubu has commissioned the first set of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The buses, numbering 20 in the first batch, were produced locally by Innoson Motors.

The government said it was optimistic that the buses will help to ease transportation problems, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Five of the CNG buses were driven to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, where the President took a break from the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting to commission them.

The provision of the CNG buses is part of the demands made by organised labour following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on May 29, 2023.

Recall that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, met with Tinubu last week at the Presidential Villa.

The buses, which comprised the first batch were produced locally by Innoson Motors and donated by the Deport and Petroleum Product Marketers Association (DAPPMAN).

President Tinubu emphasized while commissioning the first set of 20 hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses that it was  an economic necessity all Nigerians must embrace.

The president acknowledged many ordinary Nigerians are facing challenges of high cost of transportation.

He said the CNG-powered buses will provide a solution to the problems.

He cited the examples of India and other countries that have mandated CNG vehicles since 2024.

“Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 percent of our petrol demand costing us trillions of naira each month.

“The solution is here. We have it and we will work on it. We promise you definitely things will definitely get better and prosperity will be achieved.”

“It is a great inspiration for me to receive these buses on behalf of the government making it a significant innovation to the transportation system. Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” he said.

President Tinubu also assured that with the huge deposit of gas in Nigeria, the federal government would work towards achieving a more productive and innovative CNG-powered transportation system for the citizens

“For many countries especially Nigeria with our own gas, we will work harder with productive and innovative ideas. It is an economic necessity that we should embrace. I noted the recent yearning of many ordinary Nigerians on transportation.

“We can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes. Like this, we would definitely be able to achieve prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people,” he said.

The President said the donated Hybrid Powered CNG buses are convertible.

He described the development as promising and a progressive lift to the Nigerian transportation system

“That these buses along with the CNG are convertible is very encouraging and promising to enhance our transportation system,” the President added.

He also commended Innoson Motors and members of DAPPMAN.

“I thank Innosson Motors and others who have been committed to changing the narratives in Nigeria,” he said.

Chairman of DAPPMAN, Winifred Akpani, said the buses were designed, manufactured and delivered by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian company in Nnewi, Anambra State.

She said each of the buses is capable of transporting 100 people and is capable of using diesel as an alternative fuel.

Akpani assured the government of continued full support, saying DAPPMAN will continue to go the extra mile to ease the problems of not just the downtrodden but all Nigerians.

“These are hybrid buses that will run on CNG. Each of these buses is capable of transporting 100 people and they also have an alternative use of diesel.”

“We believe that these buses will be put to use especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity.

“I’d like to state that as part of our delivery, we’ve made provision that each of these buses will have two drivers and we are going to have them trained at the facility that they have been manufactured,” she said.

She hinted that more donations would be made in subsequent phases

“We believe that these buses will be put to use especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity.

“We believe that these buses will be put to use especially since we know that more donations are coming and we thank the President for this opportunity,” Akpani stated.