The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaib Abubakar Audu, on Thursday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Compressed Natural Gas ( CNG) initiative. For transporters in Kogi State.
Audu stated this in his address at the first launch of the CNG initiative program in Lokoja, Kogi State.
He said President Tinubu’s “Agenda of New Hope” had been delivered before their eyes, with the President’s CNG initiative seeking to reduce transportation costs by more than 40 percent to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies. he pointed out.
The minister said in a statement by Salamatu F. Jibaniya, Press Secretary, Ministry of Steel Development, that the ministry is about to submit a proposal and plans are underway to make Ajaokuta one of Nigeria’s CNG hubs. . He requested the President to establish an industrial park near Ajaokuta that would also include a CNG park and a free trade zone.
“The President, in his Independence Day speech, said that Nigeria is on the brink of economic collapse because Nigeria spends more than $10 billion a year on fuel subsidies, and therefore something needs to be done quickly, and that He stated that this was the reason for abolishing the subsidy.
“There are some challenges that come with that. That’s high food prices. The president told all of us that we’re doing something to reverse this trend to make sure food prices come down quickly. One of them is the provision of CNG vehicles to Nigerians.
“Mr. President has mandated 1 million CNG vehicles and/or their conversion, which must be installed by the end of 2025. This means that next year, 1 million cars will be converted from gasoline to gas. This is a very big and important thing.
“As the Minister of Steel Development, I would like to discuss the benefits of this CNG conversion site and the important role that Ajaokuta will play in that regard. Ajaokuta is Nigeria’s gas hub.
“There is a gas line (AKK pipeline) running from Warri to Ajaokuta and from Ajaokuta to Kaduna and Kano, which means that billions of cubic feet of gas are transported annually from Ajaokuta to other parts of Nigeria. I will.
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“We have submitted a proposal to the President to declare Ajaokuta as an industrial park which will also have a CNG park which will be one of the CNG hubs in Nigeria.
“And we are not in a situation where most of the CNG conversion centers and CNG parks are outside Kogi State, we have land in Ajaokuta, we have gas in Ajaokuta, we have conversion kit production facilities in Ajaokuta.
“The industrial park will attract steel companies to Ajaokuta, meaning that everything we need is right around us. And most importantly, it will help Kogites and Nigerians in general. Thousands of jobs will be created.
“So, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda is here to turn the economy around. Thus, realizing the President’s aspiration to grow the economy by $1 trillion by 2030. And we will accomplish that by the special grace of God.”
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in his address, said the CNG initiative is an important milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “New Hope” agenda to reduce dependence on petrol. He expressed his gratitude to the President for this initiative. It will in turn alleviate people’s suffering.
Governor Ododo, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Elder Joel Salihu Ododo, pledged to train 250 youths in CNG conversion and empower them to tap into the global technology, pledging to support the project. The state has vowed to get involved.
Also speaking was Mr. Engr., Program Director/Chief Executive Officer of P-CNGI. Michael Oluwagbemi said P-CNGI chose Kogi for its initial launch because the state is not only a water confluence state but also important in terms of transportation system linking the north with other parts of the country. Because of this, he said. It houses an important gas hub.
He said the event was not only aimed at fulfilling the President’s promise to reduce transport fares for commercial drivers and give transporters free modification of their vehicles and three-wheelers, but also to encourage Nigerians to join the country. It is also an opportunity to benefit from the country’s rich resources. , invites everyone to join the president’s innovative efforts.
