The Association of Local Government of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to expand the technology for petrol to CNG auto conversion across the 774 LGAs in the country.
ALGON national body made the call on Tuesday during the stakeholders engagement meeting it had with the Federal Government at the Federal Ministry of Transportation complex in Abuja.
In a statement made available to The PUNCH, ALGON National Media Officer, Obiora Orji, said the meeting was held to engage the Federal Government on the personnel training for the CNG autogas conversion and its maintenance across the country.
Orji stated, “The ALGON National President, Hon Aminu Mu’azu Maifata has expressed a strong commitment to the presidential initiative on clean energy transportation in the country.
“He said the training aspect of the programme was necessary to get the rural off-takers properly informed on the technology and operational components.
“He stated that such technology needs to be deployed with good technical support with regards to both the autogas conversion and other vital knowledge required as ALGON will endeavor to reach out to the grassroots where already so many Nigerians are facing the biting hardship of cost fuel coupled with economic challenges,” the statement read.
It added, “The ALGON National President said that such energy transition will see many organisations, groups, individuals, and people key into it due to its value chain and gains and will create jobs and curtail insecurity as well as rising urban drift.
“The National President canvassed for holistic expansion of the technology across 774 and Area Councils to make a reasonable impact of the P-CNG which according to is a concern to the association.”
According to the statement, the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, in his address at the meeting, said that promoting the CNG value chain is of huge economic benefit and called for the deployment of competent technology to address all existing challenges.
The minister, represented by the Director for Road Transport Mass Transit Administration, Musa Ibrahim, also noted that the meeting was designed to make a way forward on the success recorded in the transportation sector.
“Other stakeholders, who spoke are the Director, Business Development of P-CNG, Mrs Omola Obileye, who pointed out that alternative energy would support the present administration in making jobs available and creating wealth.
“She also promised that the organisation would grow the infrastructure train and deliver successfully for after-sales needs with the hope that the drive will position the country as a leader in the CNG technology space.
“ALGON was also accompanied by the erstwhile Deputy National President, Shehu Marshal Jega (COS), ALGON Director of Finance and Accounts, Nuhu Ozigy, among others,” the statement further read.
