Subsidy Removal: Nigerians are going through very difficult times - Abiodun

.....as Ogun launches CNG buses

By Demilade Michael

Ogun State government on Monday launched the maiden Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered Mass Transit Buses, as parts of efforts by the state government to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal by the federal government.

Speaking at the ceremony, which took place at Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan Secretariat, Abeokuta, the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun

renewed the promise of his government that it will leave no stone unturned at ensuring that it provides the needed succor and relief to the generality of people in the state.

While recalling that Ogun is one of the first states to implement different transport and peculiar allowances  to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, the governor acknowledged that Nigerians are going through very difficult times, stressing that "we are all going through a very trying period".

"I will continue  to lead from the front in our quest to build a better future together for all of us; our resolve to the  implementation of our  ISEYA agenda  is unwavering. The CNG conversion success is just the beginning as we will soon be back here at this same  venue to launch  our emobility program  , launching our electric okadas and tricycle".

"We are determined and committed to the implementation of our multimodal transport master plan of the state connecting air, road, sea, and rail".

Abiodun said, "our approach remains unprecedented in the entire country. This among others is part of our  proactive response to cushion the  effects of the policy of deregulation embarked upon by the Federal Government  as subsidy payments were  no longer sustainable".

"About a year ago, we strategically  and proactively formulated our Ogun State Energy Transition policy and what you are witnessing today is which commencement of the    implementation, by deploying the use of CNG fueled  mass transit buses and our e-mobility for motorcycles and tricycles. These are better, cheaper, cleaner and sustainable means of transportation in our dear state".

"This initiative clearly anticipated the deregulation of the downstream sector  and  fuel subsidy removal whilst  deploying alternative means of running our public transportation with cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness".

"This  became imperative considering the urgent need to create a cleaner environment and also to mitigate the effect of climate change which is real caused by the use of fossil fuels (diesel and petrol)".

"As your  Governor, I am extremely delighted  that we are  able to commence the implementation of this laudable initiative, and I am bold enough to say that we have come tops again as the first state in the country to record this feat".

This is yet another successful Public Private  Partnership with Spiro; a company that has deployed successfully in other parts of the sub-region. They have trained our local mechanics who have been actively involved in the  conversion engineering and we will be setting up conversion stations across the the three  senatorial districts . This will allow us to commence the rapid  conversion of commercial public mass transit buses and cars".

"Besides reducing the cost of transportation of goods and services to prices that are lower than before deregulation, this will furthermore and particularly  provide training and  job opportunities for our thousands technicians and mechanics".

"We  have given some buses to indefatigable civil servants/workers, we will be giving some buses to our students campuses  . We earmarked  some of these buses  to operate from Mowe/Ibafo to Berger in Lagos whilst others will be deployed to serve Kuto to Wole Soyinka Train Station in Laderin and some to serve the Onikolobo-Idi-Aba corridor and others  will continue to serve the which is from Ita-Oshin to the Adatan corridor. As we expand our fleet we will be deploying  buses to our major cities Sagamu, Ota, Ijebu Ode to provide mass transportation for our citizens  particularly for students".

Governor Abiodun, while pointing out that government has set up a gas refilling  station in Obada Oko, Ewekoro local government area of the State, he added that government is providing the required infrastructure across the state  to support the buses particularly gas re-fueling stations along the routes and terminals, stressing that in the coming days, these will come on board for operations.