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CNG-Powered Transport to Boost Nigerian Economy, Says Tinubu

The Federal Government’s efforts to enhance public transportation received a significant boost yesterday as 90 high-capacity Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses were delivered. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing the economic benefits and cost-saving potential of CNG buses, personally accepted 30 of the buses at the Presidential Villa, while representatives took delivery of 60 more in Lagos.
Of the buses received in Abuja, 20 were produced by Innoson Motors, a Nigerian auto manufacturer, and were donated by the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN). The remaining 10 buses were provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Foundation.
During the symbolic inauguration of the vehicles at the forecourt of his office, where five buses were showcased, President Tinubu highlighted the advantages of CNG-powered vehicles. “Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004,” he said. “In Nigeria, commercial vehicles account for about 80% of our petrol demand, costing us trillions of naira each month. The solution is here, and we are committed to working on it.”
He further emphasized the economic necessity of adopting natural gas for powering Nigeria’s transportation sector, promising that this initiative would bring prosperity and reduce transportation costs for Nigerians. “Utilizing natural gas in our transport industry is the future,” Tinubu added. He also expressed gratitude to Innoson Motors and others involved in this innovation.
DAPPMAN Chairman, Winifred Akpani, explained that the buses were designed and manufactured by Innoson Motors in Nnewi, Anambra State. Each bus, capable of transporting 100 passengers, can run on both CNG and diesel. She assured the government of continued support and expressed hope that more donations would follow to expand the use of CNG buses across the country.
Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director of NNPCL Foundation, noted the importance of this initiative in promoting clean energy and providing affordable transportation. She emphasized that fueling CNG buses is more cost-effective compared to traditional fuels, which will help reduce transportation fares and stimulate economic growth.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the presentation as a significant step towards the Tinubu Administration’s goal of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, including CNG.
In Lagos, the hybrid buses, which can operate on both CNG and petrol, were handed over to officials from the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas (P-CNGi) at a brief ceremony at the Jet Motor Company plant in Ajah. Dimas Hamidu, Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, praised the quality of the vehicles and commended the company for its work.
Hamidu noted that these vehicles would help address transportation challenges and alleviate the impact of rising costs following the removal of the petrol subsidy. He expressed optimism that more CNG buses would soon be on Nigerian roads, contributing to the country’s economic and environmental goals.
Jet Motor Company’s Managing Director, Derek Ewelukwa, thanked the government for the opportunity to contribute to an efficient transportation model. He explained that each hybrid vehicle is equipped with two CNG tanks, providing a combined capacity of 220 liters and a range of 300 kilometers, along with an 80-liter petrol tank. The CNG tanks have a lifespan of 15 years, allowing for seamless switching between gas and petrol.
Other officials from the Ministry of Finance, including Balarabe Tukui, Okeke Osita Gabriel, and Oluwole Akinwunmi, also attended the ceremony, highlighting the government’s commitment to expanding the use of CNG-powered vehicles in Nigeria.
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SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.
SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.
In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.
“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”
The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
News
Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani

Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.
“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”
“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.
He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”
He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.
” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.
Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”
“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”
“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
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