The federal government has given 64 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The buses were presented to the unions at the Abuja State House conference centre on Sunday, as part of activities marking Nigeria's 64th independence anniversary.
Wale Edun, the finance and economy coordinating minister, led the government delegation to the handover ceremony.
The delegation included Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, Abubakar Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning, and Ayodele Olawande, the minister of state for youth development.
During his speech at the occasion, Edun expressed optimism for a more accessible and effective public transportation system by stating that the buses, when used for commuter service, will drastically lower transportation costs in the nation.
He stated that the distribution of the buses was a fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu's commitment to provide affordable and efficient transportation under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) to assist Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to Edun, motorists can now pay as low as N15,000 to fill a tank instead of N50,000 or more.
He asserted that the CNG project will have a substantial positive effect on inflation
