The Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has introduced 3,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles worth N10.2 billion to tackle the ongoing transportation challenges in the state. The unveiling ceremony took place on Wednesday in Lagos and was led by Alhaji Azeez Abiola, a prominent NURTW chieftain and Zonal Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria.
Abiola emphasized the initiative’s aim to alleviate transportation costs for residents, which have been a burden for many. “Over 3,000 CNG tricycles have been deployed to the state to ease the cost of transportation among the residents and at the same time reduce economic hardship,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting this project, which he believes will significantly impact the daily lives of Lagosians. “We thank God Almighty for the opportunity to launch this laudable project with the support of President Bola Tinubu. As we launch this initiative today, residents will begin to experience a reduction in the cost of transportation within their locality,” he added.
The newly launched tricycles are set to begin operations on Thursday, offering a more affordable transportation option. Abiola highlighted the cost-efficiency of CNG, noting that while traditional tricycles require about N15,000 worth of fuel daily, CNG-powered tricycles can operate with just N2,500 to N3,000 per day. “This development will reduce the cost of living among our people drastically,” he said.
Also Read:
- 48 Victims of Niger State Tanker Explosion Receive Mass Burial
- Presidential Initiative Launches Program to Reduce Transport Fares by 40% with CNG
In addition to reducing transport costs, the initiative is expected to create over 5,000 new jobs, including positions for tricycle operators and technicians specializing in CNG conversions. Abiola praised the state NURTW chairman for supporting the project and ensuring that union members benefit from the new initiative. “With this development, we are going to engage hundreds of our members, fix them in the system, and monitor their operations to prevent excessive charges,” he explained.
Despite the positive outlook, Abiola called for more government support, particularly in establishing additional CNG filling stations closer to where operators work. “The only challenge we are having now is that of the CNG filling station, which is only situated at Agidingbi in Ikeja, while our members are operating in Alagbado, Agbado-Okeodo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, and Alimosho,” he noted.
He further appealed to the government to lift restrictions on tricycle operations along routes that connect to the CNG filling station. “We also want the government to lift the ban on tricycles on the routes linked to the CNG filling station to make refilling easier,” Abiola added.