The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses to reduce transportation fares by 50 per cent and ease the burden of transport costs on residents.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced this during the flag-off of 15 CNG buses at the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti.
The buses, donated to the state by the Federal Government, represent the pilot phase of the initiative. The state government says it plans to expand the fleet to cover more residents, with routes map out for the buses.
The initiative is part of efforts to provide affordable public transportation and reduce the impact of rising transport costs on commuters.
Speaking on the deployment, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said routes had already been mapped out for the CNG buses.
While some state governments have introduced subsidised or free CNG-powered transportation schemes, however limited coverage means many commuters still rely on commercial buses facing high fuel, spare parts and maintenance costs.
