By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is set to launch the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) aimed to herald the autogas scheme from Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
A statement signed by the General Manager/Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Garba Deen Muhammad, in Abuja stated that the autogas scheme would deliver at least one million vehicles conversions by the end of 2021.
According to him, the autogas scheme would herald the clean energy transition for Nigeria and the delivery of a cheap transportation fuel. The event is expected to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari,
He explained that the rollout is the culmination of the resolve of the present administration to deepen domestic usage of natural gas in its various forms.
He added that it was also in line with the government’s plan to make gas the first choice source of cheaper and cleaner energy for Nigerians in their personal and industrial endeavours.
Mr Muhammad further stated that at the launch, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, would on behalf of the federal government hand over Compressed Natural Gas-powered mass transport buses to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
He explained that this was a part of the agreement reached with labour during negotiations and in recognition of the role organised labour plays in the quest to bring relief to ordinary Nigerians.
The minister’s spokesman stated that the launch would also herald the formal dispensing of autogas — Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG — products at two Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), retail stations.
He said: “The Federal Government Autogas program will deliver at least one million vehicle conversions by the end of 2021 and herald the clean energy transition for Nigeria and delivery of cheap transportation fuel.”
Dipo Olowookere