The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), on Friday announced a 40% reduction in transportation cost for CNG-powered taxis from motor parks in Area One, Garki, in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive Officer of PCNGI, stated this during a tour of the motor parks on Friday, stating that the discount was to cushion the impact of high cost of transportation which came as a result of removal of fuel subsidy.
Represented by David Idako, Cordinator, Northern Region CNG, Oluwagbemi explained that the PCNGI management had reduced the price in collaboration with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW) since over 50% of the vehicles in the garage were already converted to CNG fueling.
“We have worked hand-in-hand with the National Union of Road Transport Workers. We have converted a lot of their vehicles, and based on the agreement that we have with them, of course, it is for them to reduce the prices for the general public, so that the effect of the fuel subsidy that was taken off, the burden will be reduced on Nigerians.
“We have come here to start enforcing the price reduction. The NURTW have given us the prices, the fare amount from Area 1 to different destinations when they were running on petrol and we have come together, made an analysis and achieved a 40 percent reduction in the fare, in the transportation from Area 1 to all other destinations”, Idako said.
He said from Area One to Gwagwalada, which used to cost N1,500 with petrol, had been reduced to N900; Bwari Dutse, which was N1,500, was reduced to N900. From Area One to Kuje, which was N1,200, had been reduced to N720 and Galadimawa, which was N500, had been reduced to N300. Mpape, now cost N600 instead of N1000. Zuba has been reduced from N1,500 to N900.
He assured that task force comprising members of the PCNGI and NURTW are in place to enforce compliance with the new price. “If they don’t comply, such a driver will be reported to the task force and be disciplined,” he urged said.
Ibrahim Jibril, NURTW Garki Branch Secretary, said CNG stickers and the new prices were on the vehicles for passengers’ information.
He assured that the task force set in place would not hesitate to discipline drivers who default in implementing the agreement.
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“So if there is any fault anywhere, we will get to know within a very short time. And we believe that every driver, because we are always there to make sure that it is about their comfort,” Jibril said.
Also speaking during the tour, the PCNGI Commercial Coordinator, Tosin Coker, said PCNGI wasnworking on providing more infrastructure in addition to the 10 conversion centres in the FCT
“We have had so many conversations and it’s obvious that this innovation is welcoming. 10 conversion centres are in the FCT, two conversions are underway, and we’re going to do the same to Lagos, Portharcut and across Nigeria”, he added.
He admitted that there was a little infrastructure lag, which the PCNGI was addressing. He said aside from the 10 conversion centres in the FCT, two conversions were underway.
