By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has received four 50-seater hybrid Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) to improve public transportation in the territory.

While receiving the keys in Abuja on Thursday, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, represented by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, said the buses would comfortably transport up to 200 people.

He noted that the buses would run on both CNG and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Wike, no modern city will thrive without a robust public transportation system.

“So, public transportation is meant to move people from one point to the other, especially those who cannot afford private transportation, or those who can afford private transportation but opt to go on the public system.

“Also, when tourists come in, they don’t come with their private transportation; they depend on a robust public transportation system.

‘This is why we are building roads, bridges and bus terminals. We have just commissioned two of the modern bus terminals at Mabushi and Kugbo, while the third one in the Central Area will soon be ready,” he said.

The minister said that the FCTA would procure more buses to ease public transportation in the nation’s capital.

He commended Tinubu for the initiative and for ensuring that the FCTA was not left out.

Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and Chief Executive, PCNGI, while  handing over the keys to the minister, said that the initiative would make sure that the CNG buses get to the identified beneficiaries across the country.

Oluwagbemi explained that the presidential initiative was designed to ensure that Nigerians move around in a cheaper, safer and more reliable transaction system.

He commended the FCTA for demonstrating a great support for the PCNGI programme.

He added that the administration has shown great innovation by investing not just in roads infrastructure but in bus terminals under the great leadership of the minister.

“You are receiving four because you are one of our biggest supporters and also because through you, we know more people because you are in the business of direct transportation at the FCT.

“We see your terminals; we see your roads. So we want to thank you.

“For this we felt that the FCTA should be a major beneficiary of this initiative and I want to thank everybody at the FCTA for the good job you are doing.

“I look forward to an FCT in the next two to three years where residents will leave their vehicles at home and take one of these buses to work, town and other places, as is done in other developed countries,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru