Bolatito Mercy
The Ekiti State Government has commenced the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the financial burden on residents across the state.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced the initiative on Thursday during the official flag-off of 15 CNG buses donated to the state by the Federal Government.
The rollout, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence Day and Ekiti State’s 30th anniversary celebrations, is part of the state government’s efforts to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs in line with the Federal Government’s directive to state governors.
Oyebanji, who was accompanied by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, at the ceremony held at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado Ekiti, said the government would expand the fleet to serve more residents.
The governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the intervention, saying the provision of the buses would help reduce the burden of transportation on residents.
He urged transport unions to ensure that the benefits of the CNG initiative are passed on to commuters through lower fares.
Oyebanji said the 15 buses represented the pilot phase of the programme and would be distributed to transport unions, while the state transportation agency would oversee their operations.
According to him, the Federal Government had charged state governors to introduce measures to reduce transportation costs, particularly as high transport expenses continue to affect household finances.
“My appeal is to the unions; they should allow the gains to translate to the commuters because this will reduce transportation cost by 50 per cent,” Oyebanji said.
The governor also commended the Federal Government’s economic policies, saying increased resources had enabled state governments to implement programmes and projects with direct benefits for citizens.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said designated routes had been mapped out for the CNG buses.
He disclosed that the buses would operate on routes connecting Ado Ekiti with Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja.
Akingbolu said the initiative would provide residents with more affordable and reliable interstate transportation while helping to ease the impact of high transport fares.
Following the flag-off, Governor Oyebanji also inspected ongoing projects at various locations across the state as part of activities marking the state’s 30th anniversary.
