Ondo seeks 100 CNG buses, conversion centres to cut transport costs
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Government has commenced moves to increase the use of Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs and ease the burden of high fuel prices on residents.
The state’s Special Adviser on Transportation, Muyiwa Ogunyemi, disclosed this while meeting with members of the Ondo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in his office.
Ogunyemi said the government was negotiating with private companies to establish conversion centres across the state where petrol-powered vehicles could be converted to CNG, adding that discussions were also ongoing with Matrix Oil on installing CNG facilities at its filling stations.
According to him, the government is also considering the deployment of electric vehicles and CNG buses as part of measures to modernise the state’s transport system and provide cheaper alternatives for operators and commuters.
The special adviser further disclosed that the Ondo government had approached the Presidential Implementation Committee on CNG for 100 buses, while another request had been made for 50 CNG-powered Maruwa vehicles. He added that the state government would complement whatever support was secured from the Federal Government.
He said a company had also been engaged to supply CNG buses to the state, expressing optimism that the proposed conversion centres and refuelling facilities would soon become operational.
Responding, the Ondo State NURTW Chairman, Ademola Odudu, welcomed the planned interventions but appealed to the government to subsidise the support for drivers, noting that fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, tyres and hire charges had placed a heavy financial burden on transport operators.
Odudu urged the government to ensure that drivers directly benefited from the initiative, while commending the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for its efforts at improving the state’s transportation system and the beautification of Akure.
