In response to complaints of severe gas shortages impacting commercial transport operators, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has secured a commitment from the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative to establish additional Compressed Natural Gas filling stations throughout Kogi State.
The development coincides with commercial tricycle owners’ mounting worries about the lack of CNG, which has hampered transportation operations and made life more difficult for both operators and commuters throughout the state.
Operators under the Kogi Central Tricycle Network claimed that the shortage had caused long lines at the lone CNG station serving the area, resulting in missed productive hours and decreased profits, according to a statement released by the senator’s media office late on Monday.
The operators said that the single facility was no longer able to accommodate the increasing demand from commercial riders who had embraced the renewable energy initiative of the Federal Government.The organization demanded immediate action, characterizing the situation as a significant challenge.
In an effort to find a long-term solution, Akpoti-Uduaghan contacted the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative’s leadership in response to the complaints.
The senator said that she had spoken with Ismaeel Ahmed, the initiative’s chairman, about the issue and that he had reassured her that work was being done to build more CNG stations throughout Kogi State.
The Presidential CNG Initiative’s chair, my good friend Ismaeel Ahmed, has told me that his office is presently assisting in the construction of multiple CNG stations around Kogi State. This will alleviate the present scarcity and assist close the supply gap,” she said.
Ahmed confirmed the news and stated that plans were being finalized to increase the state’s CNG infrastructure through collaborations with private investors.
He pointed out that Kogi was a top investment destination due to its strategic location along important transportation lines and its place in Nigeria’s gas value chain.
He claims that the state is appropriate for the construction of gas distribution infrastructure because of the existence of the Ajaokuta gas hub and its function as a significant transit corridor.
He claims that the state is appropriate for the construction of gas distribution infrastructure because of the existence of the Ajaokuta gas hub and its function as a significant transit corridor.
“The Ajaokuta gas hub is located in Kogi State, and due to its strategic location, high traffic volume, and significance as a major transportation corridor, we will be adding more gas stations along that route,” Ahmed stated.
Through the Presidential CNG Initiative, which was started as part of steps to lessen the impact of fuel subsidy elimination and lower transportation costs, the Federal Government has continued to encourage the adoption of CNG as a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline.
The projected expansion has been welcomed by locals and transportation providers, who expressed hope that more stations would increase access to CNG throughout the state and reduce supply issues.
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