Oyo State Government through the Pacesetter Transport service (PTS), has received deployment of 20 CNG buses as part of efforts by the federal government to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
During the brief handling ceremony held at the PTS conference room on Monday, the Chairman and Sole Administrator, Hon. Salami Dikko, who expressed gratitude to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Tinubu over the laudable initiative, thanked the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, for appointing him as the chairman of PTS.
The chairman who disclosed that when he came in, there were five working buses and had to increase the buses to 81, noted that PTS is now wearing a new look with several laudable initiatives and development.
He maintained that the CNG is the best approach to solve problems in the state, stressing that the Governor of Oyo state is keying into the project to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
Dikko however urged the PI-CNG to provide an additional one hundred (100) CNG buses to cover more routes in Oyo state.
Earlier, the CEO CNG, Engr. Micheal Oluwagbemi who expressed his delight to set the pace for the CNG platform program, said that their visit to Oyo state is to fulfill the promise of president Tinubu made during the campaign.
He noted that the deployment of CNG buses in the country is to address issues affecting Nigerians particularly on petrol importation, among others.
According to him, the deployment is to end the era of enriching the rich alone who he described as cabitocrat for the benefit of everyone and stressed that the compressed natural gas is a source of fuel that is abundant in Nigeria to ameliorate hardship.
He said: “Ibadan for generation has always been attractive since it was founded and it’s a place where commerce thrives and a state of secret billionaires.
“This is to show and demonstrate that Oyo state is indeed Asiwaju and a place to first launch the CNG initiative.
“President Tinubu is asking us to use our gas to thrive in transportation, industries, produce more foods and fertilizers as well as other things that will make life easier for the people.
“We are beginning to do the right thing but this requires us to taste some pains. We can’t go back to subsidize our own impoverishment. As a team, we are determined to show our commitment.
“We are here to present 20 buses as a sustainable partnership with Pacesetter Transport Service (PTS) to generate income because they are assets. So, we need more Dikko(s) so that we can run more sustainable mass transit. We can effectively ensure that the future of the Oyo State is brighter as well as Nigeria.”
In his goodwill message, the Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Environment, Engr. Ademola Aderinto, said CNG is a far cheaper form of energy noting that the initiative will give a longer and healthier life as it will also prevent emission of carbon monoxide always caused by combustion engines.
“The way to go for Nigeria is CNG, natural gas. And it is a delight that Oyo State is rolling this out first. We want to thank President Tinubu and also His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, for embracing changes.
In attendance included chairman OYSROMA, Hon. Busoye Ogunlade other government functionaries and a host of others.
