Amid ongoing protests fueled by socio-economic challenges, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo on Friday assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is poised to leave Nigeria better than he met it on assumption of office.
Ekpo stated this during his address at the launch of the Ride Share Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Incentive Programme and PI-CNG’s My CNG App, noting that the initiative reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable transportation for Nigerians.
The Minister saluted the Programme Coordinator of the Presidential CNG Initiative (P-CNGi) and critical stakeholders in the project for working tirelessly to make it a reality.
He also implored Nigerians to stop attacking President Tinubu and the people working to change the fortunes of citizens, especially following the decision to end fuel subsidy.
“Today we need to stop attacking Mr. President for taking this decision. All what he is doing is to make Nigeria a better place for our citizens…and I assure you that Mr. President will leave Nigeria better than he met it at the expiration of the tenure of his office,” said Ekpo.
The Minister acknowledged the pivotal role that the transport sector plays in the movement of goods and services, and the impact of the recent removal of fuel subsidy on that role.
He said the rising costs of traditional fuels (notably petrol and diesel) have posed significant challenge to both drivers and passengers, often leading to higher fares and reduced access to affordable transportation.
Ekpo, however, described the Ride Share sector as a vital part of the country’s urban transportation system, providing flexible and cost-effective mobility solutions to millions of Nigerians, particularly the youths, saying granting them incentives to convert to CNG would go a long way in reducing transportation cost.
Said Ekpo: “The CNG Conversion Incentive Programme, in conjunction with the My CNG App, is a bold response to these challenges. By offering a 50 per cent discount for rideshare drivers upon sign-up and scheduling through the My CNG App, we are not only making CNG a more viable option but also easing the financial burden on drivers. This will translate to more affordable transportation options…By transitioning to CNG, we are also taking decisive steps towards a greener, more sustainable future for Nigeria.”
The Minister therefore encouraged Ride Share drivers to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by the government through the CNG conversion discount initiative, recognizing the significant difference they are making not just for themselves, but for the nation as a whole.
Executive Vice Chairman of National Agency of Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalid Halilu, in his speech described the launch of the scheme as a milestone achievement in the deployment of technology to boost CNG utilisation as vehicular fuel in Nigeria. He commended partners, P-CNGi, Portland Gas and Dana Motors for their faith and commitment to the project.
Programme Director, Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, said transportation forms about 15 per cent of average family spending as Nigerians now spend more on fuel to move around.
He thanked President Tinubu for approving the 50 per cent discount for the Ride Share drivers scheme saying it will bring down transportation cost in the country.
