As part of its strategy to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal, the federal government yesterday deployed 20 eco-friendly CNG buses to Oyo State. Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi, CEO of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, expressed his satisfaction in launching the CNG platform program and stated that their visit to Oyo fulfilled a promise made by President Bola Tinubu during his election campaign.
Oluwagbemi emphasized that deploying CNG buses is aimed at addressing challenges facing Nigerians, particularly regarding petrol importation. He explained that the initiative is designed to shift the focus away from enriching the wealthy and towards leveraging Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources to alleviate hardship.
He remarked, “Ibadan has long been a hub of commerce and wealth, and launching the CNG initiative here demonstrates how much Asiwaju values Oyo State.”
He continued, “President Tinubu is urging us to use our gas resources to enhance transportation, industry, food production, and fertilization, all of which will improve the lives of Nigerians. We are on the right path, though it may come with some discomfort. There’s no turning back to subsidizing our own impoverishment. Our team is committed to making this initiative a success.”
Oluwagbemi also highlighted the 20 buses being presented as part of a sustainable partnership with Pacesetter Transport Service (PTS) to generate income for the state. He called for more support to ensure a brighter future for both Oyo State and Nigeria.
During the handover ceremony at the PTS conference room, Salami Dikko, Chairman and Sole Administrator of PTS, expressed gratitude to the federal government and President Tinubu for the initiative. He affirmed that CNG is the best solution for the state’s transportation challenges and noted that Governor Seyi Makinde is fully committed to the project to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. Dikko also appealed to the Presidential Initiative on CNG (PI-CNG) to provide an additional 100 CNG buses to cover more routes across Oyo State.