Petrol Subsidy Removal: Niger State Acquires 200 CNG-Powered Buses
Niger State Government says it has acquired 200 mass transit buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce costs of transport in the face of petrol subsidy removal.
Governor Mohammed Bago, announced this at a dinner organized for members of the House of Representatives Press Corps.
The governor said 100 of the buses would be deployed Tominna-Suleja-Abuja routes at subsidized fare for workers.
According to him, 50 of the buses would operate within Minna, the state capital, while the remaining 50 would operate in Kontagora and Bida.
The governor said the buses would convey students free of charge.
He said, “We are very ambitious as a government. We have already purchased about 200 CNG buses to commute for free students going to school and subsidised civil servants in Niger State. 100 of the buses will commute to Abuja and Suleja daily, while 50 will be in Minna and others will be spread between Kontangora and Bida.
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“Secondly, we have awarded contracts for the construction of about 566 km of the roads and we have started with groundbreaking. It is unprecedented in this state. We are so ambitious and by the grace of God, we will be there.
“Niger State is the largest in terms of land mass in Nigeria, with about 76, 300 square kilometres of arable land. Niger State also has four Hydropower dams. That is Kianji, Jeba, Shiroro and Zungeru. We have the only white sand beach in West Africa, Shagunu Beach.
“There is also Zuma rock and a lot more that people don’t know. I have come here today to tell you that with this partnership we are establishing, we need to spread the gospel. Let people understand where we stand. What people understand about Niger State is the issue of insecurity and insurgency.
“Yes, we cannot shy away from insecurity, it is a reality, but what percentage of our land is in that mess? Very insignificant. You cannot underscore the fact that lives are being lost, but we are working assiduously to make sure that everybody lives well in Niger state and Nigeria at large.”
He continued, “I went for a peer review in Kano because Niger state is the largest producer of Paddy rice in Nigeria but our rice mills are nothing to write home about. I heard of the largest rice mill in Africa situated in Kano and I went for peer review and it is massive.
