NURTW Lagos Goes Green: 3,000 CNG Tricycles for Affordable Transport

3,000 CNG Tricycles Hit the Road

“Over 3,000 CNG tricycles have been deployed to the state to ease the cost of transportation among...”

Nigeria's Federal Government promotes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles to reduce transportation costs, mitigate climate change, and create jobs.

The Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has launched 3,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) commercial tricycles, valued at N10.2 billion, to alleviate transportation challenges in the state.

Alhaji Azeez Abiola, Zonal Chairman of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria under NURTW, unveiled the eco-friendly tricycles on Wednesday in Lagos. Abiola emphasized that this initiative would provide relief to commuters by reducing transportation costs.

“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 said.

“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.”

The 3,000 newly acquired Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tricycles by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos chapter, are set to begin operations tomorrow. According to Alhaji Azeez Abiola, this initiative will drastically reduce the cost of living for Nigerians, as “it costs a tricyclist N15,000 fuel to operate daily, while CNG operation will cost between N2,500 and N3,000 for daily operations.”

This eco-friendly project is expected to create over 5,000 new job opportunities for operators and technicians specializing in CNG conversions. Abiola expressed gratitude to the state NURTW chairman, saying, “We also appreciate the support of our state NURTW chairman for this initiative and for making it possible for members to be beneficiaries.”

This development aligns with the broader push for sustainable transportation solutions in Nigeria, as seen in initiatives like Dana Motors' rollout of CNG-powered buses to reduce transportation costs.

“With this development, we are going to engage hundreds of our members, fix them in the system and monitor their operations from excessive charges,” he stated.

Abiola, however, appealed to the government to establish the CNG station within the locality of operators for easy refilling access.

“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-ljaiye, Agege and Alimosho,” he noted.

“We also want the government to lift the ban of tricycles on the routes linked to the CNG filling station to make refilling easier.”

 

The Federal Government is promoting the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles and encouraging Nigerians to switch from petrol engines to reduce transportation costs. This initiative aims to make transportation more affordable and environmentally friendly. By embracing CNG, Nigeria can leverage its abundant natural gas resources, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

The government's push for CNG-powered vehicles is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on petrol. Recently, the Federal Ministry of Transportation commissioned a pilot CNG conversion center in Abuja, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable transportation sector.

Benefits of CNG-Powered Vehicles:

Reduced Operating Costs: CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol, with daily operations costing between N2,500 and N3,000, compared to N15,000 for petrol engines.

Environmental Sustainability: CNG produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Job Creation: The CNG initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities in the transportation sector.

The government's push for CNG-powered vehicles sets Nigeria on the path to a greener, more cost-effective transportation network.