....signs MoU with four conversion partners
By Peter Adedoyin
The Federal Government on Friday launched the Conversion Incentive Program of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas initiative (P-CNGi) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The programme is in continuation of President Bola Tinubu's commitment towards achieving the conversion of one million petroleum vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by year 2025.
The launching witnessed the P-CNGi Programme Director, Michael Oluwagbemi presenting free CNG conversion kits to four Conversion Partners that signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with it for the purpose of running the programme for the presidency.
Addressing stakeholders which included leadership of the transport unions and captains of industries in the State, Oluwagbemi said the initiatives was part of the President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda towards cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal and promote cleaner, safer and more reliable environment in Nigeria.
Oluwagbemi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of P-CNGi emphasised that the initiative will also enable Nigeria to leverage on the abundant gas resources in the country and urged stakeholders present to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the programme.
Speaking in an interview with journalists after the distribution of the free conversion kits to the stakeholders, Oluwagbemi said beneficiaries expected for the conversion programme would be by nomination from the three major transport unions which included the National Union of Road Transport Union (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), as well as NATO among others in the nation's transportation sector.
"They would be sent members of NURTW, NATO, RTEAN and other commercial drivers , they would be able to bring their vehicles here on nomination to be converted for free for the installation and the kits for free .
He said, "50 nominees from each of the three major transport unions will be utilizing these four conversion centres. When the conversion are completed, these vehicles will be able to fuel in any of the CNG refuelling stations. So, we will be able to go farther on using gas".
Oluwagbemi explained further that the Presidential Conversion Incentive Programme has as at today, succeeded at signing MoU with 60 conversion partners for conversion centres from seven states, compared to only seven centers which the initiative had in year 2023 when it was newly introduced.
"Now we have identified about 123 of those conversion centres. So, out of those 123, 60 of them have signed up with us and we are going to add additional cities like in Lagos where we are having additional 12 in the next few days. Likewise Edo and Delta States will also be activated next week or two. Kwara State has already been activated in one site and additional sites are coming in".
"So, the goal for my team is that everyday, we must add two conversion centres in Nigeria for the next one year. That will get us to an appreciable level of conversion centres that we need to meet the one million vehicles which Mr. President has set for us".
Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Energy, Jide Onakoya, described the programme as a game-changer for Ogun State, stressing that it will enable citizens to switch from expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper gas.
He noted that it will reduce pollution, enhance commerce, and improve transportation.
"We believe this programme will be a game changer for the people of Ogun State by been able to convert from higher expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper Gas . It can help the people of Ogun State to reduce pollution by a significant amount.
"And further more, it help in the ability to get transport , so it help commerce and the state .'
In his Goodwill message, one of the conversion partners, Wale Adedotun highlighted the benefits of gas over petrol, citing its safety features, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages.
He noted that a kilogram of gas can cover 14-15 kilometers, compared to 10 kilometers with a litre of petrol.
" If you compare gas with petrol, gas is very light,even if there's any flame, Gas goes up and doesn't go down. In terms of safety, it is better than petrol .Gas is far better , your engine will always look new.
"If a litre of petrol covers 10 kilometers a kg of gas , I can assure you that it will cover between 14 and 15 kilometers."
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