The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, on Tuesday said that the Federal Government would be handing over a total of 1,000 gas-powered buses to organized labour.
Speaking during the launch of the National Gas Expansion Programme, NGEP, in Abuja, by President Muhammadu Buhari, Sylva stated that the buses would be given out to labour starting from the first quarter of 2021, while the rest would be provided over the next months.
“We would start in the first quarter of next year with over 100 buses and we would continue to incrementally add the buses until we get to that number,” Sylva noted.
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He further disclosed that over one million conversion kits would be provided across the country, to enable people to convert their vehicles free of charge.
According to him, the conversion programme would continue indefinitely, as more people choose to convert their vehicles to use autogas solely, or on dual fuel, comprising use of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, and autogas.
He said: “We are going to have one million conversion kits, which would be with the people who would be converting the vehicles. Any motorist that wants to convert his or her vehicle would only drive into the conversion centres and convert their vehicles for free at all time.
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“Unfortunately, we have not utilized our gas resources optimally. We have over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas, TCF, already discovered.
“We have initiated programmes in the gas supply side, with the proposed launch of gas facilities in Edo State and the National Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, but we needed to boost the utilization side, and that is what this programme is about.
“Today’s roll-out marks the optimal utilisation of Nigeria’s gas resources across the country.” Sylva explained that as part of the roll-out strategy, selected filling stations across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, would start the installation of facilities for gas products and conversion capabilities.
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“The availability of autogas as an alternative fuel option will afford Nigerians cheaper, a cleaner and the additional choice of fuel, cheaper than the price of PMS, cleaner for our environment, better for our automobiles and other engines,” the minister added.
By Peace Obi
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