From Our Correspondent
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative Steering Committee, on Friday, said seven CNG conversion centres have been established in the country.
The Committee Chairman, Mr Zacch Adedeji, made this known while handing over CNG buses to the State House, Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusesan Adebiyi, in Abuja.
Adedeji is the acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Represented by Mr Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Adedeji said the establishment of the CNG conversion centres symbolised the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to spearhead the energy revolution.
He assured that more CNG conversion centres would be established across the country.
“The effort is a pivotal step in Nigeria’s journey towards a cleaner and economically sound future.
“The project is not only about the conversation of vehicles but also about creating employment opportunities,” he said.
Adedeji announced that FIRS would waive Value Added Tax on CNG purchases and seek duty waivers for the value chain.
He said the aim was to build a sustainable future by leveraging the nation’s cheap and clean energy source.
According to the chairman, it also demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to environmental sustainability and economic growth.
“These CNG buses for the State House are the vanguard of a future, where energy is cleaner and more economical.”
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, said the event marked a new turn in the history of Nigeria.
“This begins a gradual transition from petroleum to gas-powered vehicles,” AbdulRazaq said.
He said that universities would be the first beneficiaries of the buses, adding that all state governments would key into it.
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“For those of us who were in the gas industry, this is what we have been calling for decades.
“Nigeria is a gas country, not a crude oil country. Seventy per cent more of our hydrocarbon is gas. So why are we investing all our time and energy in crude oil?
“Today is a turning point for us that President Tinubu has taken this bold decision to move from petroleum to gas. This is the first step in a major change to come.”
Also speakingn his part, the Managing Director of OMAA Motors, Mr Chinedu Oguegbu said expressed gratitude to Tinubu for the initiative.
The NewsZenith reports that OMAA Motors a Nigerian automobile manufacturer.
“Aside from connecting with the energy transition we are also deepening industrialisation by patronising made-in-Nigeria vehicles.
“This is going to go beyond the natural gas value chain. This is going to create thousands of jobs for the youths,” Oguegbu said.
The Permanent Secretary of State House, Adebiyi, said the event was the beginning of a new dawn.
“The State House has some fuel dumps and one of them will be converted to CNG immediately to guarantee frequent fueling of the buses and their maintenance.
“The provision of the buses will enhance the efficiency of our staff and enhance their punctuality to work.
“It will also enhance speedy delivery of services in the entire State House,” he said.
Recall that the National Economic Council (NEC), on July 20, endorsed the deployment of CNG vehicles for public transportation.
This is to cushion the impact of the removal of petroleum subsidies.
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