Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State Government says it has begun the process of transitioning from the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, vehicles in order to reduce the cost of transportation for the people of the state.
The Commissioner for transport, Dr Obi Ozor, disclosed this in Enugu while briefing the press on the outcome of the state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah at the government house.
He said that the move was in line with Governor Mbah’s commitment to improving the living standards of the people and reducing their sufferings.
The commissioner said that the decision would cushion the effect of the current fuel price hike in the state.
According to him, the state government had concluded plans to buy buses and support the private sector to invest in the transportation space with the aim of bringing a safe, affordable and sustainable transportation system in the state.
Ozor added that the state government had created an enabling environment for investments in the CNG project by securing a partnership agreement with a private sector for the conversion of petrol vehicles to CNG ones.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, said the Executive also approved the creation of a new ministry called the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
According to him, this was to serve as a supervising ministry to handle all the state government’s engagements in the energy and mineral resources spaces.
Prof Onyia stated that the new ministry will oversight most of the investment opportunities within the solid mineral space and to help catalyse investments in the energy, renewable energy and coal-to-power spaces.
