From Yakubu Mustapha Minna
Niger State Government has concluded plans for the procurement of 200 Comprise Natural Gas (CNG) 50 sitter buses to the sum of N7 billion.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago made this known shortly after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Niger State Government and four transportation companies at the Government House Minna.
Governor Bago explained that the CNG buses will be free for students from basic to tertiary institutions, while civil servants will get discount transportation fee, aimed at reducing their hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to purchase 1,000 CNG buses in the next four years and electric motorcycles in order to reduce the pollution caused by the fuel engine motorcycles.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Transportation, Hadiza Idris Kuta said the two hundred buses will be made available within twelve weeks, emphasizing that the ministry will ensure effective and efficient monitoring of the buses.
Speaking on behalf of the four transportation companies, Muhammad Bawa of the Nationwide Unity Transport said the two hundred CNG buses was divided equally amongst the four transportation companies, while he assured Nigerlites that the buses are of high quality and reliable with two years warranty and a ten years spear-part availability.