Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has handed over 2,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association NACTOMORAS as part of ongoing effort to change the face of transportation system in the country as well as to create employment for Nigerians.

The handover of the Tricycles in collaboration with Presidential CNG initiative PI-CNGA took place on Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary day at the old parade ground in Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.

Speaking at the handover, the Minister for State Ministry ofYouth Development Comrade Ayodele Olawande said that  Tricycle will significantly reduce transportation costs in the country, bringing hope for a more affordable and efficient public transport system.

He described the distribution of the 2,000 tricycles as fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PCNGi) to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies.

Comrade Olawande said the initiative is aimed at alleviating the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability. 

Minister However, urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, assuring that better days lie aheadOn his own, programme director and chief executive of PCNG Mr Micheal Oluwagbemi commended president Tinubu for the gesture, saying CNG initiative will significantly impact the live of every Nigerians postive

According to him, thi time last year, if you go back to President Ahmed Tinubu speech on October 1, 2023, he stated Nigeria is going to be deploying a number of CNG power tricycles.and today he fulfilled the promise, we are here to hand it over 2,000 tricycles to youth ministry and to 

NACTOMORAS that is going to the society to better their life Youth in the country.

“It’s the first of the country. What should Nigeria expect going forward again? Yes, so at this point, work essentially at the Presidential CNG initiative. It’s now going to drive the beneficiary allocation with respect to the CNG tricycles. 

“These tricycles will be deployed across the country. So this is one of our many tricycles initiatives. These are firsts.We are going to have something similar in our programme also with Ministry of environment will have a component of this. And then we’ll have some that will be direct commercial.Well.

We are now handing over. We are fulfilling the promise of the President .”

In his earlier speech, the President  NACTOMORAS Usman Buba- Gwoza thumbed FG for initiative saying the gesture will go a long way affect the life of rider and society at large

According to him, NATOMORAS, with its over 18 million registered members, has been at the forefront of supporting this administration. We believed in the promise of progress, development, and empowerment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration campaigned on. We mobilized tirelessly to ensure that this administration was voted into power, because we trusted in the vision laid before us..

“It gladdens our hearts to see the launch of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles by the Ministry of State for Youth Development. We strongly believe in the vision of using cleaner energy to drive economic development and environmental sustainability. However, as key stakeholders who have supported and committed to this initiative from its inception, NATOMORAS now humbly requests that the government fulfills its promise of empowering our members through the allocation of these CNG- powered tricycles.

“Our members who are the riders and owners of these commercial vehicles-are vital to the everyday movement of millions of Nigerians. The empowerment of NATOMORAS members with CNG-powered tricycles will not only uplift their livelihoods but will also support the administration’s goals of job creation, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability.”

He we urge the government to honor its promise, recognizing the pivotal role NATOMORAS plays in Nigeria’s community transport system.