NEWS
P-CNGi Deploys 160 CNG Buses to NARTO, NURTW, Others – CEO
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) says it has deployed 160 CNG buses through its transport union partners and sub-nationals, to cushion the effect of high transport cost occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.
Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director/Chief Executive, P-CNGi, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Sunday.
Oluwagbemi said they had already deployed 75 buses to the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) through the Ministry of Transportation.
He said among the buses deployed to the unions, five each were dedicated for intra-state and 20 each for inter-state.
“Last year, during the yuletide we deployed 160 CNG buses to our union partners, through the Ministry of Transportation, namely – NURTW, RTEAN and NARTO.
“We deployed 75 buses through the transport unions and another 85 buses totaling 160 buses to the state government affiliated mass transit companies including Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos states and FCT among others.
“All of these transport companies, affiliated with the state government received different levels of buses, some received 15, 20, 25 and 30 buses and they have started operations.
“In the case of pacesetters transport company, Oyo for example, we deployed 15 buses, and during the yuletide from Lagos to Ibadan they were able to bring down the prices to N3, 200 on a route that normally cost N8,000.
“People that were using patrol buses also experienced a discount because there was pressure on the price of transportation within the parks that they loaded which brought down the price to N6,000.
“These are some of the benefits that we are beginning to see from the deployment of CNG vehicles across Nigeria.
“What we intend to do this year is to focus and concentrate on deployment between Lagos and Abuja and also work with the sub-nationals to fill the gaps across Nigeria,’’ he said.
He said that 15 of the buses were deployed for intra-state, while 60 were for inter-state.
According to Oluwagbemi, all the buses deployed to the various states have started operating at 50 per cent discount, with an effective monitoring system.
He said that the FCT residents had enjoyed 40 days free rides on the buses as part of the benefits of the administration.
The P-CNGi CEO said that residents of FCT were currently enjoying a 30 per cent discount on any ride following the expiration of the free ride.
According to him, in order to enjoy this benefit, Nigerians should get on the buses by utilising specific parks operated by these unions and get a card which monitors the number of passengers on board.
“Ultimately, this is the journey; it starts by us recognising that we should utilise our God’s given resources, which is natural gas, to power this economy and make sure we reduce the cost of transportation and enhance the quality of lives of Nigerians.”
The P-CNGi is a component of the palliative intervention of the President Bola Tinubu administration directed at providing succour to the masses, occasioned by the transitive hardships of the fuel subsidy removal policy. (NAN)
The Anambra Police Command says its operatives have caught and detained a 40-year-old man, identified simply as Maduka, who allegedly buys off stolen electrical items and equipment.The command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Onitsha and made available to newsmen on Sunday.
Ikenga stated that the suspect was caught on June 14 at Fegge in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra. According to him, police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad RRS, Awkuzu, acting on credible information, caught Maduka at Fegge, Onitsha, at about 4.15 pm.He added that the suspect was alleged to be dealing mainly in vandalised electrical items and equipment.He explained that the police team recovered bags of vandalised copper wires, large quantities of high tension wires, copper coil and other transformer equipment.Ikenga further stated that the operatives were expanding their investigation, following the suspect’s confession regarding where he usually sold the items in Ogun and Lagos States. (NAN)
The Federal Government has approved the construction of a new Senate Building at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, in Benin on Sunday. Ehanire said the letter for the construction of the building, as approved by the Federal Executive Council, was received by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof.
Edoba Omoregie. She said that the construction of the building would commence immediately. According to Ehanire, UNIBEN is one of Africa’s leading tertiary institutions and one of the most sought after by students seeking quality higher education. (NAN)
Hundreds of youths in Benue on Sunday took to the streets to protest the continuous attacks, killings, and displacement of people in the state.The protest followed the killing of scores at Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area on Friday night.The protesters who converged at the Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi called on the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility, which is to protect all the citizens within its sovereignty.
They also urged security agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure that all displaced people return to their ancestral homes and continue with their normal lives. Speaking to newsmen, Mr Brahms Ikuan said the state was under siege for a long time and there were not sufficient efforts for the government to address the menace.Ikuan regretted that even when they had useful information about the movement of the attackers and reports to authorities, nothing was still done to avert the attacks.He further accused the authorities of maintaining a conspiratorial silence on the ongoing genocide, adding that Benue may cease to exist if urgent steps are not taken to end the killings.“We cried, sent messages and opened letters, but nobody listened to us. Nobody came to our aid. At this moment we are not sure if there will be any place called Benue tomorrow.“Despite the attacks and killings in Yelwata yesterday, up till now, no word from the government or any prominent person. They have abandoned us.“We want the world to know that Benue is being wiped out on the face of the earth and nobody cares about what is happening,” he said.Also, Mr Gideon Inyom accused the government of giving the herders unfettered access into the Benue communities by relaxing the state anti-open grazing law.Inyom said all they wanted was security of lives and property, adding that such was the primary responsibility of every government worldwide.However, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Emenari Ifeanyi, told newsmen at the scene that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has taken over the security of the state.Ifeanyi said that the IGP has already deployed special forces to the state to end the attacks and killings.The CP added that security agencies were on top of the situation and urged the youths and Benue people to give the new forces a chance.“What you saw happening in Yelewata yesterday is because we have taken over Apa, Gwer West, and are moving seriously in Agatu. They just want to do something to show that they are in control while they are not and will never be.“We are feeling more pains than you. We are here to protect lives and property. We have security everywhere now; even in Yelwata there are tactical teams in the bush even before the attack.“Give the special forces and tactical teams a room to work. If you prolong your stay here, you are giving the enemies more time to plan.“We have intelligence reports of their movement, and we are blocking them, and you will see the end result,” he said.Ifeanyi further disclosed that Gov. Hyacinth Alia has given them all the logistics support needed to restore peace in Benue.Report says that a military helicopter was spotted in the sky at Wurukum Roundabout as the protest against herdsmen killings intensified. Report further says that the protesters turned down the Deputy Governor Dr Sam Ode’s request to address them. (NAN)
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