Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Coordinator, Presidential CNG Initiative, PCNGI, says over 491 million {dollars} investments have been interested in AutoCNG and created over 9,000 direct and 75,000 oblique jobs previously one 12 months.
Mr Oluwagbemi stated this whereas addressing State Home Correspondents on Monday.
He stated the conversion capability of autos from pure petrol and diesel to Bifuel autos had elevated from seven when the programme began to greater than 200.
He stated the Conversion Incentive Programme, CIP, launched by President Bola Tinubu in August 2024 led to the employment of three,000 new technicians.
He stated the programme was to allow a million free or subsidised conversion of sure courses of autos, particularly public business transports, rideshares and MDA autos to be achieved by the PCNGI.
He stated about 22,000 conversion kits have been initially procured and began being delivered in October 2024 to the programme by the Ministry of Finance.
He added that 10,000 conversion facilities can be established by the top of this quarter underneath this programme having began in December 2024.
He stated the programme had been expanded by the PCNGI to allow reductions for public servants to finance the stability of prices for changing their autos working with the Credit score Corp.
“In case you additionally recall, to display the efficacy of CNG and electrical autos (EV) platforms, CNG buses and tricycles in addition to EV buses have been procured on our behalf by the Federal Ministry of Finance. A complete of 655 buses have been procured.
“About 421 CNG Buses and 36 EV buses have been delivered to this point, and the programme has deployed 405 buses both as a part of the settlement of phrases with the NLC and TUC as a part of the wage negotiations,” he stated.
Mr Oluwagbemi stated the PCNGI was established to facilitate the adoption of pure gasoline and different various fueled autos together with electrical autos.
He stated this was within the mild of the elimination of gasoline subsidy that led to a spike of transportation prices on the onset of the coverage because the President sought to rescue the nation.
He stated there had been a visual hole in CNG availability with longer queues in some areas however assured this was short-term.
He attributee this to the inflow of CNG vans and the over 30,000 CNG conversions undertaken by the personal sector, which greater than quintupled the CNG fleet of Nigeria.
“This naturally will put stress on our gasoline infrastructure. However the PCNGI just isn’t relenting in options,” he stated.
He stated PCNGI launched a scheme referred to as the Refueling On lending Programme that would supply gear at value for refueling to key conversion facilities and refueling companions.
He stated 25 websites have been billed to learn and 15 states slated for this: “Already the primary website in Kwara state is reside, and Kogi, Ekiti, Rivers and Abuja will quickly be a part of them earlier than Could 1, 2025.
“By June 12 we will have Kaduna, Abia, Enugu becoming a member of the fray with Niger, Kano and Benue following shortly thereafter.”
He stated the PCNGI launched into intensive stakeholder engagement and public consciousness marketing campaign from Could to November 2024 to persuade the personal sector to speculate important funds alongside the federal government’s investments.
This, he stated, stimulated demand by business automobile operators and personal automobile customers alike.
He stated to additional bolster infrastructure, PCNGI had co-opted personal sector companions to deploy over 150 new refueling areas within the subsequent 18 months.
“NNPC have already deployed 12 websites, with 8 to go this quarter, and approval for extra 100 sought and secured for the subsequent 18-24 months.
“NIPCO has imported gear for 32 daughter station websites with 22 in operation and eight underneath development. Bovas has eight underneath development and AY Shafa has accomplished one with 9 underneath development.
“Entities like Ibile Oil and Fuel, MBH and Mikano are additionally investing in not simply daughter stations but additionally mom stations,” he stated.
Mr Oluwagbemi stated the only security incident that occurred in Benin final 12 months was a results of financial saboteurs engaged in unlawful fabrication of CNG cylinders and have been arrested by the police.
He stated with Nigeria Fuel Autos Monitoring System (NGVMS) in place that incident can be prevented as solely correctly labelled and accredited autos with licensed tanks can be refueled.
“The required steps to launch the NGVMS are ongoing, and we anticipate it to be in place by 12 months finish. We gained’t relent in guaranteeing the protection of lives and investments of contributors within the sector,” he assured.
NAN
