James Sowole in Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday launched Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered mass transit buses, to provide cheaper and fuel efficient means of transportation to residents of the state.
The buses of different passenger capacities, were launched at the Arcade Ground of Governor’s Office, Okemosan, Abeokuta at a ceremony witnessed by various stakeholders that included leaders of organised labour unions, transport workers associations, traditional rulers, students, market men and women among others.
Abiodun described the event as another remarkable feat in the life of his administration and in a bold step of providing the needed service to the citizens of the state.
Stating that the state’s approach remains unprecedented in the entire country, Abiodun said the project among others, was part of proactive response to cushion the effects of the policy of deregulation embarked upon by the federal government as subsidy payments were no longer sustainable.
He said: “About a year ago, we strategically and proactively formulated our Ogun state energy transition policy and what you are witnessing today is commencement of the implementation, by deploying the use of CNG-fuelled 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.
“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.”
The governor said the project was another successful public/private partnership with Spiro, a company that has deployed successfully in other parts of the sub region.
“The company, has trained our local mechanics who have been actively involved in the conversion engineering and we will be setting up conversion stations across 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,” He added.
Abiodun also explained how allocation of the buses was done among sectors and different routes.
“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 Lagos whilst others will be deployed to serve Kuto to Wole Soyinka Train Station in Laderin and some to serve the Onikolobo-Idi-Aba coridor 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 like Sagamu-Otta-Ijebu Ode to provide mass transportation for our citizens particularly for students.
“We have set up a gas refilling station in Obada Oko and are providing the required infrastructure across the state to support the buses, particularly gas re-fuelling stations along the routes and terminals . In the coming days, these will come on board for operations,” the governor said.
Abiodun said the government appreciates that these are very difficult times and citizens are all going through a very trying period,.
“We promise we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we provide the needed succour and relief to the generality of our people.
“You will recall that we were one of the first states to implement different transport and peculiar allowances to cushion the effect of this subsidy removal.
“We are determined and committed to the implementation of our multimodal transport master plan of the state connecting air, road, sea, and rail.
“We are pursuing the construction of a dry port at the Kajola-Papalanto corridor, which will increase our ease of doing business in the state by providing and alternative to the busy Lagos ports, thereby creating an enabling environment for more investors in Ogun state,” he added.
The governor said that in a couple of months, he will officially commission and commercial operations will begin at the International Agro-Cargo International Airport located along the Iperu-Ilishan road in the Ikenne Local Government Area of the State.
