By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Lagos State Authorities has intensified its push to modernise freight transportation and improve street security with a strategic assembly held Wednesday in Alausa, Ikeja, to debate modalities for deploying 2,000 Compressed Pure Gasoline (CNG) vehicles below Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s haulage reform initiative.
Senior Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, led a authorities delegation that included the Senior Particular Assistant on Transportation and Logistics, Comrade Hassan Adekoya, and the Everlasting Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Wale Musa, to the closed-door engagement with key stakeholders.
The assembly comes after Vanguard completely reported plans by the state to roll out the brand new CNG vehicles for port and haulage operations as a part of efforts to enhance security, scale back greenhouse emissions, and modernise the logistics ecosystem.
The initiative, structured as a public-private partnership and backed by a ₦150 billion soft-loan facility from the United Financial institution for Africa (UBA), is anticipated to exchange decades-old, unsafe vehicles which have contributed to frequent accidents throughout Lagos. The state has recorded a number of incidents involving fallen tankers, articulated autos, and container-laden vehicles lately.
Businesses such because the Federal Street Security Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Site visitors Administration Authority (LASTMA) have repeatedly warned that many vehicles working within the state fall far beneath trendy security requirements, whereas business stakeholders have lengthy advocated for government-supported fleet renewal.
The assembly introduced collectively senior officers and representatives of the Nigeria Affiliation of Street Transport House owners (NARTO), who described the CNG initiative as a vital step towards safer and extra environment friendly logistics operations within the maritime and haulage sectors.
Giwa stated Governor Sanwo-Olu recognises the pressing want to enhance security on the state’s roads, citing recurring circumstances of container crashes, automobile breakdowns, and injury to public infrastructure. He confirmed that the state had accepted a ₦150 billion intervention, starting with an preliminary ₦50 billion dedication, to section out getting old diesel vehicles and substitute them with cleaner CNG-powered options.
“This initiative, being carried out in partnership with the United Financial institution for Africa, will take rickety vehicles off our roads, scale back accidents and enhance the motion of products throughout the state,” Giwa stated.
Adekoya added that the state had accepted obligatory security assessments for truck drivers, together with drug and substance testing, in addition to periodic eye examinations. Drivers identified with sight issues will obtain corrective eyewear for gratis, he stated.
NARTO executives expressed optimism in regards to the programme. Nationwide President Yusuf Othman praised the Lagos State Authorities and the Federal Authorities for selling cleaner vitality and bettering transport infrastructure. He additionally highlighted ongoing coaching for operators who will deal with the brand new CNG fleet.
Kayode Odunowo, Chairman of NARTO’s Lagos chapter, described the initiative as a welcome growth that can elevate skilled requirements and improve security amongst haulage operators.
The affiliation’s South-West Zonal Chairman, Kola Ogunyemi, recommended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s dedication to modernising the transport sector and urged members to assist the transition to CNG vehicles.
The put up CNG haulage initiative: Lagos, stakeholders strategise on deployment of two,000 vehicles appeared first on Vanguard Information.
