The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Oluwagbemi, on Friday announced a 40 percent fare reduction by CNG-powered taxis from Motor Park in Area One, Garki, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The discount, according to him, was to lessen the burden of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol subsidy removal on the general public.
Represented by the Regional CNG Coordinator, North, Mr. David Idako at the motor park in Abuja, Oluwagbemi said the PCNGI management had reduced the price in collaboration with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW) since over 50 percent of the vehicles in the garage were already converted to CNG fueling.
His words: “We have worked hand-in-hand with the National Union of Road Transport Workers. We have converted a lot of their vehicles, and based on the agreement that we have with them, of course, it is for them to reduce the prices for the general public so that the effect of the fuel subsidy that was taken off, the burden, will be reduced on Nigerians.
“So I am here representing the project director to announce to you that here in Area 1, as of today, Area 1 Park, in conjunction with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, we have come here to start enforcing the price reduction. This is why we are here.
“So what’s the price reduction? Okay, so as of today, what we agreed with the National Union of Road Transport Workers is they have given us the prices, the fare amount from Area 1 to different destinations when they were running on petrol and we have come together, made an analysis and achieved a 40 percent reduction in the fare, in the transportation from Area 1 to all other destinations.”
Oluwagbemi said from Area One to Gwagwalada, which used to cost N1,500 with petrol, was reduced to N900, while Area One to Bwari Dutse, which was also N1,500, was reduced to N900.
According to him, Area One to Kuje, which was N1,200, was reduced to N720.
The PCNGI boss said Area 1 to Mpap, which used to be N1,000, was reduced to N600. Area one to Zuba, according to him, was 1,500, and that was also reduced to 900.
He said Area One to Lugbe, which was N700, was reduced to N420, while the Jabi route, which was N720, was reduced to N420.
Area One to Wuse, he said, was reduced from N420 to N240, while Area One to Nyanya was reduced from N700 to N420.
He also said Area 1 to Kabusa N800 was reduced to N480, while the Apo route was reduced from N500 to N300.
On the modalities to ensure compliance with the new fares, he said there was a task force comprising members of the PCNGI and NURTW in place to enforce compliance with the new price regime.
He added that CNG stickers and the new prices were on the vehicles for passengers’ information.
Passengers were advised to report defaulting drivers to the task force for sanctions.
Oluwagbemi stressed, “If they don’t comply, such a driver will be reported to the task force and be disciplined.”
Speaking on behalf of the union, NURTW Garki Branch Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Jibril said upon the realization that over 75 percent of the vehicles in the park had been converted to CNG, a task force was put in place for compliance.
He described the new fare as a fair deal on the part of the drivers because there was much more profit for them despite the price crash.
Asked if the union was in support of the reduction of fares, he said, “Yes, we are in support. If you look at it now, you go to buy fuel, 20,000 Naira. And then you go to buy gas, 4,500 naira.
“You will use the same volume and the same time to work. At least you are saving almost 75%. So moving 40% out is just even a bonus because you still have an extra 35% to gain as a driver.”
On the enforcement of the new fare, he said, “Now, when we noticed that most of the vehicles are being converted, we put a task force in place in order to check vehicles that are already being converted so that we can be able to give a reduction in their prices. And part of our strategies are vehicles that have been converted. We have a price tag written on the vehicles so that you, as a passenger, if you are going to Gwagwalada or Nyanya, will notice that this vehicle is being converted, and this is the price tag…
“So if there is any fault anywhere, we will get to know it within a very short time. And we believe that every driver, because we are always there to make sure that it is about their comfort.”
Meanwhile, the PCNGI Commercial Coordinator, Mr. Tosin Coker, said so many vehicles had been converted to CNG.
He admitted that there was a little infrastructure lag, which the PCNGI was addressing.
He said aside from the 10 conversion centers in the FCT, two conversions were underway.
SOURCE: THENATION
