Ahead of the roll-out of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mass transit buses meant for commuting nationwide, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, has inspected the assembly plant where the vehicles are being put together.
He expressed optimism that the buses when they hit the road would ease transportation and lead to a substantial slash in fares.
He expressed this view during his visit to the JET Motor Company Assembly Plant in Lagos.
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The CNG buses are being mass produced under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) as part of measures to reduce the high cost of living and curb inflation after the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Federal Government has promised to launch the first set of the CNG buses and tricycles by the end of this month (May).
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, quoted the minister as saying, “I have come to see the CNG buses that Nigerians are asking about. I have seen them. “I have tested them and driven them. I have seen them being assembled. The benefits will soon be available to Nigerians.”
Edun highlighted the significant cost savings that CNG buses offer compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.
According to him, the PCNGi is all about mass transit that is affordable, and praised JET’s employment of local talents in the assembly of the vehicles.
The Chairman and founder of JET, Chidi Ajaere, took the minister round the assembly plant during the visit.
Also on hand were the CEO of JET motor company, Engr Derek Ewelukwa, and other members of the JET team such as Sanjay Rupani of the Technical Development Department and Ebimo Ofongo, the plant manager.
Present also were Tosin Coker, Commercial Director at the PCNGi, and Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Development and Design Council.
Ajaere commended President Bola Tinubu for his initiative in promoting local production of the CNG vehicles and the entire PCNGi team’s resolve to make the project a success.
JET was established in 2018 to build Electric Vehicles (EV) vans, pickups and CNG/Petrol buses tailored to meet Nigeria’s unique transportation needs.
