Ogun To Locate CNG Fuelling Stations Along Bus Routes, Says Gov. Abiodun

Ogun To Locate CNG Fuelling Stations Along Bus Routes, Says Gov. Abiodun 

Save Our Nation SON

July 28, 2023

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said fuelling stations for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) would be positioned along bus routes across the state.

Prince Abiodun, who made this known in an interview with reporters at the arcade ground of the Governor’s Office shortly after inspecting the first successfully converted diesel/petrol buses to CNG, said the positioning of the CNG fuel stations along bus routes would ensure the sustainability and smooth running of the project.

He added that abundance of gas in the state was a major factor that would aid the successful transition.

He said his administration is looking at how to convert close to 2,000 buses at the expense of the government.

“Obviously as we proceed, we will be positioning our fuelling centres on the bus routes, conveniently located so that the buses can refill from time to time.

“Luckily for us in Ogun State, we have an abundance of gas. Ogun State has a crisscross of pipelines, be it Epe, be it the West Africa gas pipeline, this explains why we have a proliferation of industries in Ogun State.

“So today, this bus has been successfully converted, and the conversion of other buses is also in progress. The plan is to first convert the state-owned buses and then begin the converting of all mass transit buses that are even owned by the private sector.

“We will be converting the buses at our expense. If we don’t do that, the owners of the buses will not be able to afford the cost of the conversion. So, the state has decided to take on that cost and find a way to amortise the expenses over so many years.

“We are already thinking of how many gangs we need to have and how quickly we can complete the conversion of close to maybe 2,000 buses in the state,” he said.

Governor Abiodun said his administration would in the next three weeks launch its E-mobility programme.

“Alongside with that, within the next two to three weeks, we will be launching our E-mobility programme, which is a programme that aims to swap all our petrol-dependent motorcycles and tricycles with electricity-powered ones that will be powered by rechargeable batteries.

“In another month, you will begin to see more electricity-powered motorcycles and tricycles in our state. This way, gradually, over the next three to four months, our people can begin to enjoy being moved from one point to another at fares that were obtained before deregulation,” he said.

Abiodun noted that old buses operating in the state will gradually be phased out as they get older.

“This is a journey, the ultimate aim is to have buses that will be powered by electricity. However, we appreciate the fact that we have relatively new buses.

“We have commercial buses out there that may not be so new, but are still roadworthy. We cannot just wake up one day and scrap these buses. We must transit from these buses that are currently burning diesel and petrol to those that would be powered by electricity.

“The plan is we convert the current ones to use gas and we now begin to gradually phase them out. As they age, we phase them out and replace them with electric powered buses, while we roll out the infrastructure they will require, charging stations and uninterrupted power supply,” he said.

The Head of Nigeria Gas Transportation Solution Ltd, Milind Dakhole, said the buses were fitted with tanks that would allow them to travel about 150 kilometres.

He said the buses are safe for usage.