The Federal Government under its Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, on Saturday, kicked off the inspection and free conversion of petrol-powered vehicles into Compressed Natural Gas across the two centres in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The programme had in attendance transporters in the state led by the Abeokuta North Branch Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alex Bankole who represented the state chairman of the union, Ismail Mustapha.

Speaking with journalists at one of the conversion centres within the premises of Ogun State Public Works, Quarry Road, Abeokuta, the Director of Vehicles Inspection Services, Mr  Olugboyega Ademehin said that the Federal government has supplied the centres with 60 conversion kits.

Ademehin said that the free conversion programme is for commercial vehicles and that it is part of the deliberate moves of the government to cut down transportation fares occasioned by the subsidy removal from petroleum products.

He said that once the vehicle is inspected and found suitable, the technicians will do the CNG conversion and that each conversion could take up to four or five hours.

He said “We are here to begin inspection of vehicles for the installation of CNG as being promoted by the Federal government. 

“Once the technicians certify that your vehicle is suitable, you will be given the CNG kits and the conversion will be done. We have 60 kits as we speak for this centre and more are still coming. 

“A 70 litre CNG will cover a distance of 150km and it is safe. There is nothing to be afraid of. The cylinder is accident and bullet-proofed. It is a mould and not welded. Its thickness  is 60m. The CNG is lighter than air, so it cannot cause any explosion.”

Ademehin said that within Abeokuta there are three stations where the vehicles can get CNG while there are also other stations along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Toyosi Oluwasesan, an automotive technician at another conversion centre, Nexgen Automobile, Abiola Way, Abeokuta also confirmed the receipt of 50 conversion kits with gas tanks from the Federal government.

Oluwasesan said that the centre will begin the CNG conversion on Monday for any of the commercial vehicles which passed the inspection.

He said that the centre has also been able to train three technicians under the P-CNGi of the Federal government.

The Head of Operations of Nigerian Gas and Transport Solutions Limited, Aliu Manager urged Nigerians to embrace this CNG initiative, saying that it will not only help to reduce drastically the transportation costs but also help to achieve clean air.

The manager said that the initiative would also help the country to maximise its abundant natural gas resources and thus impact greatly on the country’s economy.

Speaking at the event, the state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ismail Mustapha lauded the Federal government for the initiative, mentioning it would no doubt help to bring down the costs of transportation. 

Mustapha who was represented by Alex Bankole, the Abeokuta North Branch Chairman of NURTW said that the incessant increment in the prices of petrol is making life difficult for the drivers as they could barely recover what they spent buying fuel not to talk of having what to fall back on at end of each day’s work.

The NURTW boss said, “We however believe that this CNG initiative will really help us a lot because it is cheap and we are going to support the government for its successful implementation.”

Mr John Adesola, a commercial bus driver who plies Abeokuta to Lagos has also praised the Federal government for the free CNG conversion programme for commercial vehicles.

Adesola said “The truth is that the amount we are spending to fuel our vehicles now is becoming unbearable. We are hardly breaking even not to talk of making a profit, it’s like we are just working for the owners of these filling stations.

“We however believe that this era of CNG which we have been told is cheap and very safe will change the situation for good. We welcome this development and we hope that the government will help many of us to enjoy this initiative.”

Another driver, Mr Ayinde Ogunsakin also praised the CNG innovation, saying that motorists are ready to embrace any initiative that can take away the burden of their daily expenses on petrol.

Ogunsakin said “What we are spending to fuel our cars is too much. Sometimes, I am not even encouraged to go out because at the end of the day what you will be left with after removing the fuel expenses will be too little.

“So, we are happy with the CNG conversion initiative of the Federal government and we hope that as many commercial vehicles as possible would be allowed to enjoy this free conversion programme.”