The Federal Government, on Sunday, handed over sixty-four 100-capacity and 15-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

President Bola Tinubu had on July 18, during his meeting with the leadership of Organised Labour over the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, pledged 36 CNG buses to the labour unions.

The buses were presented to the labour unions along with student leaders at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, led the government delegation that included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.

Edun described the distribution of the buses as the fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to provide affordable and efficient transportation to support Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidies under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).

He emphasised that the initiative aims to alleviate the burden on the poor and vulnerable and support macroeconomic reforms that would position the country on the path to economic stability.

The Minister further explained that the symbolic handover of 64 buses on the eve of Nigeria’s National Day marks the beginning of a broader national rollout, with the plan to distribute over 500 CNG buses and 100 electric vehicles in the first instance.

He added that the CNG initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner energy while leveraging its energy resources for industrialisation.

The Secretary-General and Chief Executive of TUC, Comrade Nuhu Toro; NANS President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe; and the Head of International Desk, NLC, Comrade Uche Ekwe, commended President Tinubu for the gesture. They called for more CNG buses to be made available to the public.
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