Ogun govt set to deploy gas-fuelled mass transit vehicles

The Ogun State Government is set to deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelled vehicles across the state.

The state government stated that the use of CNG fuel in vehicles, compared with diesel, would reduce vehicle operations and maintenance costs.

While taking delivery of vehicle CNG conversion kits, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, stressed that Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s initiative to adopt CNG fuel for state owned rolling stock assets aligns with the state transport policy objectives co-developed with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (UKFCDO).

Dairo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Sola Osasona, stated that the project, in partnership with MAUTO HOLDO DMCC, would have a first phase consisting of installing CNG conversion kits on 15 Ashok Leyland mass transit buses and 2 Hyundai buses in use by Ogun MDAs.

He added that the soon-to-commence conversion process for the pilot phase will serve as a test run and is expected to take between four to six week.

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The commissioner said it will involve the Bus Mass Transit buses currently in operation in the state capital, Abeokuta, as well as others to be deployed in the fleet to serve the planned Mowe-Berger Axis BMT scheme (also co-developed with UKFCDO) ahead of its full rollout across the state once the expected operational and environmental performance advantages have been verified and confirmed.

Dairo noted that MAUTO has deployed specialist engineers and technicians to the state to provide ‘hands-on’ training to locally based auto mechanics and technicians on CNG conversion.

The commissioner added that MAUTO was also working with the state government towards entering into a joint venture to plan, design, and establish a modern workshop facility with adequate capacity to undertake industrial scale conversion of vehicles to CNG use.

According to the commissioner, the initiative would lead to a cleaner economy, provide job opportunities during the conversion process, and reduce the cost of fuel, saying with diesel prices being deregulated and petrol prices increasing, natural gas is currently the cheapest form of fuel.

Also Speaking , the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration, Office of the Governor, Kehinde Onasanya, described Governor Abiodun as a man who keeps his promises.

He stated that the delivery of the kits is a testimony to the governor’s commitment to achieving an eco-friendly means of transportation.

On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Energy, Olaniji Adedapo, stated that the state government planned to achieve this through a “Gas-to-Transport” strategy that include the conversion of all BMT buses to natural gas.

Adedapo added that the project is also part of a gas-to-power strategy that would light up some parts of the state.

The Star