By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
A non-governmental organization, NANA Girls and Women Empowerments Initiative on Tuesday urged states and the federal government to adopt a policy framework evolved by them through consultation in Nigeria where compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles transport system are yet to take off.
Speaking during stakeholders holders engagements in Birnin Kebbi, the executive director of Foundation, Dr Fatima Adamu stated that the removal of fuel subsidy by federal government triggered widespread cost of transportation and the federal government is yet to implement the CNG transport system to reduce the adverse effects of subsidy removal.
“We have noticed only Lagos and Abuja have been able to introduce the CNG transport system while the remaining states in the country still grapple with huge transportation cost fueled by subsidy removal, as partners we have engaged the Federal Ministry of Transport alongside some ministries in various states to get them to adopt the policy framework we have developed to assist them in implementing the programme”, she said.
Ladan noted that a similar consultation were held in Kano, Kaduna and some eastern states and now in Kebbi where they are engaging Kebbi State Ministry for Transport and Renewable Energy, hoping to get the government to adopt the policy framework and to ensure implementations.
Responding on behalf of Kebbi State Government, the commissioner for Transport and Renewable Energy, Alhaji Bala Gagga said that Kebbi is yet to receive CNG buses from the federal government, but the Kauran Gwandu Transport Initiative already provided busses across the state to ease burden of transportation.
“Though the state is yet to receive the federal government CNG buses, Governor Nasir Idris has acted swiftly to addressing transportation deficit and burden through the provisions of buses at affordable fare to the people of Kebbi State until the federal government releases the CNG buses.
