*As Ogun CNG Buses Begin Mowe-Ibafo-Berger Operations
A cross section of “used” high capacity buses for mass transit have been purchased by the President Bola Tinubu-led government to ease transportation challenges of Nigerians occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The buses were sighted at the Federal Secretariat car park in Abuja, with a group of panel beaters, technicians and painters battling to fix and rebrand the dilapidated buses.
The panel beaters were seen carrying out body work on the buses while the painters painted the dented parts of the buses to give them a face-lift. Also oil was seen dripping from the engines of some of the buses.
Meanwhile, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses of the Ogun State Government, tagged ‘DapoCNG Bus’ on Monday, commenced operations along the Mowe-Ibafo-Berger, Lagos axis of the state.
The buses, according to the state Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo
are to operate ahead of the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the axis.
They would be operating from 6 am to 9 pm from Mondays to Saturdays and 7 am to 6 pm on Sundays with bus stops at Mowe, Ibafo, Magboro, Arepo, and New Garage in Berger.
According to Dairo, transport rates on the CNG powered buses range from N200 to N400 maximum.
The commissioner said every necessary arrangement has been concluded with all the stakeholders, including transport unions and local government officials, for the smooth take-off of the scheme.
“Expectations are quite high, the services are much anticipated, and the timing of start of operations with Xmas activities at the RCCG camp much valued by commuters”
“Commuters along that axis are encouraged to patronize these buses as they are convenient, safe, and affordable with promises to give an endearing smooth experience while on the road,” Dairo said.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, while
announcing the deployment of CNG Technology and E- Mobility as a better alternative and viable means of transportation in the Gateway State with the launching on October 30, of 17 converted vehicles in the maiden scheme, said it was a cost-effective transportation system with little impact on the environment and a direct response by his administration devised to mitigate the adverse impact of fuel ‘subsidy removal’ on transport costs experienced by commuters in the state.
He said the scheme, which started along Adatan to the Ita-Oshin corridor in the Abeokuta metropolis, will be extended to other towns and cities in the state.
However, findings by a popular online medium revealed that the high capacity buses sited at the nation’s secretariat belonged to the Federal Ministry of Transport as part of a palliative programme designed to reduce the cost of transportation.
A peep into the 14 vehicles also showed that the interior had worn-out seats, smashed windscreens and old tyres.
Meanwhile the Press officer, Ministry of Transport, Mr. Olujimi denied that the vehicles belonged to the Ministry of Transport.
Olujimi who had initially refused to answer repeated calls put across to his mobile phone to confirm the ownership responded through a text message sent to him.
He said “They are not, to my knowledge. Thanks for asking”
The 33-passenger capacity vehicles were among the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses which is part of fulfillment of an agreement resulting from the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the government with the organised labour on October 15, 2023.
The government had said that the CNG-powered mass transit buses would help Nigerians save two-thirds of transportation costs and also promote the use of CNG as an alternative to petrol. This, in turn, will cut down on the cost of transportation across the country.
But many Nigerians have expressed concerns over the safety of the refurbished vehicles instead of new buses considering the deplorable condition of the roads in the country.
They faulted the Tinubu led government for putting their lives in danger by purchasing “used” mass transit buses, thereby reneging on the agreement with the labour.
ALSO READ:Path To Sustainable Banking System Stability-Analysts
It would be recalled that due to the hardship brought by the removal of the fuel subsidy, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced in September that they would begin an indefinite strike on October 3.
The nationwide strike that was set to begin on October 3 was, however, halted on October 2 by the two labour unions and a coalition of other union leaders.
In the agreement the government accepted to vote N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. The government said provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.