The initiative seeks to offer relief to the masses due to the hardships caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.
The CEO and Program Director of Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative ,Michael Oluwagbemi stated that the programme aimed to convert one million vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for free.
He commended Ogun State for being a pioneer in adopting CNG for transportation.
Oluwagbemi added that the programme will partner with conversion centres, with four already signed up in Ogun State.
He said the centres will receive conversion kits purchased by the federal ministry of finance for free adding that members of NURTW, NARTO, RTEAN and other commercial drivers will be nominated to have their vehicles converted at no cost.
"What we are doing here now is to flag off the incentive programme that the President announced in his last speech to the nation where he talked about the difficulties of all Nigerians.
"He mentioned that a million vehicle is going to be converted either for free . We are here to fulfill the President promise here in the city of Abeokuta.
"We are going to be working with the conversion centres partners , we signed up four of them here in Ogun State today.
"It's going to be the 60th we've signed across Nigeria for the programme . The idea is that this conversion centre will get the conversion kit that the federal ministry of finance have purchased for free.
"They would be sent members of NURTW, NARTO, RTEAN and other commercial drivers , they would be able to bring their vehicles here on nomination to be converted for free for the installation and the kits for free .
"50 nominees from each of the three major unions will be utilizing not just this facility but the three facilities to ensure conversion started. When that conversion started, we will be able to fuel in any of the CNG refueling stations that are also present in Ogun State " he said.
Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Energy, Jide Onakoya, described the programme as a game-changer for Ogun State, enabling citizens to switch from expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper gas.
He noted that it will reduce pollution, enhance commerce, and improve transportation.
"We believe this programme will be a game changer for the people of Ogun State by been able to convert from higher expensive petrol and diesel to cheaper Gas . It can help the people of Ogun State to reduce pollution by a significant amount.
"And further more, it help in the ability to get transport , so it help commerce and the state .'
In his Goodwill message, one of the conversion partners, Wale Adedotun highlighted the benefits of gas over petrol, citing its safety features, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages.
He noted that a kilogram of gas can cover 14-15 kilometers, compared to 10 kilometers with a litre of petrol.
" If you compare gas with petrol, gas is very light,even if there's any flame, Gas goes up and doesn't go down. In terms of safety, it is better than petrol .Gas is far better , your engine will always look new.
"If a litre of petrol covers 10 kilometers a kg of gas , i can assure you that it will cover between 14 and 15 kilometers."
