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FG to convert 250,000 vehicles to CNG annually – Coordinator
By Francesca Hangeior.
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative is set to mobilise all 36 states by year-end, converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more affordable alternative.
The P-CNGi’s Programme Execution Coordinator, Folarin Oworu, announced this at a rally held at the Mando Inter State Terminal, Kaduna, on Thursday, where 100 conversion kits were distributed to commercial transport union members.
According to him, the initiative targets commercial vehicles, with partners in various states, aiming to convert 250,000 vehicles per year starting next year.
He stated that the conversion kits, worth N1.5m, would be free for transport unions, to reduce transportation costs for the masses.
He added that the next rally is scheduled for Lagos, with plans to cover all states before year-end.
Oworu said, “What we are doing here today is front-to-back CNG conversion mobilisation. Mr. President has decided to make conversion free for the road transport unions – that is the NURTW, NATO and other road transport unions.
“The idea is to bring down the cost of commercial transportation. How do we do that? It is by converting the commercial vehicles of transport unions to make their running cost cheaper. The idea is for them to translate these savings to the end users by making transportation cheaper.
“We are starting here in Kaduna and from Kaduna, we shall move to Lagos and before the end of the year, we would have gone to the whole 36 states.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was done by the conversion partners we have at the various locations. The commercial vehicles will go and have their vehicles converted. The conversion kits are one hundred per cent free. The conversion cost is one hundred per cent free. That is the agreement in the MOU.”
In his goodwill message, former National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Najim Yasin, commended President Tinubu’s initiative on the P-CNGi agenda, aimed at converting commercial vehicles to use compressed natural gas.
Yasmin applauded the President’s support for the transport sector and the decision to provide conversion kits free of charge to commercial vehicles, estimated to benefit 1 million vehicles.
He encouraged members of NURTW, NATO, and other road users to key into the program, which is aimed at reducing the suffering of the masses by decreasing transportation costs and fuel prices.
Yasmin thanked the President and organisers for involving transport workers in the program and expressed appreciation for the support from neighbouring states.
He emphasised the program’s potential to reduce fuel prices and transportation costs, benefiting the masses. The program is set to roll out across all 36 states in the country.
Yasmin said, “This programme will move around the 36 states of this country. We, the National Union of Road Transport Workers of Nigeria, the National Association of Transport Owners, use this opportunity to commend President Bola Tinubu for this laudable initiative and support for the transport sector in Nigeria.
“I called on entire transport organizations- NURTWN, NATO…etc across the country to key into the programme. They have signed the agreement with the company for the conversion here in our present. We have got a number of vehicles that as of today can move to the conversion centres so that these vehicles can be converted one by one.
“This one is strictly for commercial vehicles and that is why we are involved so that we ensure that our members key into this programme. We appreciate Mr. President and all those who work tirelessly to make this programme a reality.
“We know how much a litre of fuel is now sold and if you fill your tank for N50,000, N45,000, it depends on the number of litres your vehicle is consuming. Before you go from Kaduna to Abuja, that fuel is gone. Automatically, it will affect the transport fare.”
The Presidential CNG initiative is a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s palliative measures to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal policy on the masses.
The initiative is seeking to provide relief to Nigerians by promoting the use of compressed natural gas as a cleaner and more affordable alternative to fuel.
The move is part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal and ensure a smoother transition to a more sustainable energy future.
…handover Ogbeche, Osadebamwen, others to EFCC for probe
Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja, the Council under the leadership of Comrade Grace Ike shared details of the inquiry conducted by a committee established by the NUJ Congress. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to enhance organisational accountability and strengthen internal governance systems.
The five-man panel, chaired by veteran journalist, Comrade Tony Akowe, included Comrade Ndubueze Chidoka (Secretary), Comrade Akin Orimolade, Comrade Princess Ekwi Ajide, and Comrade Imam Umar.
The committee’s scope covered activities from December 2018 to October 2021, encompassing the periods of past administrations led by Emmanuel Ogbeche and Patrick Osadebamwen.
According to the committee’s documentation, critical gaps were observed in record-keeping and transitional documentation. In addition, there was limited engagement from some former officeholders during the review process. The only available financial review for the period in question reportedly presented inconsistencies requiring further attention.
The committee noted that its work was hampered by a lack of cooperation from key figures of the past administration. According to Mr Akowe, no formal handover was done, and only a limited set of documents including one audited financial report and some rental receipts was made available.
Efforts to retrieve further documentation from the former chairman, Mr Patrick Osadebamwen, proved unsuccessful. He reportedly claimed to have submitted relevant documents to the NUJ National Secretariat, which has since denied receiving any such records.
The probe uncovered several questionable financial entries and unverified expenditures:
• A total of ₦33 million was declared as rental income between 2018 and 2021, but there was no breakdown showing the names of tenants or corresponding rent periods.
• The administration claimed to have received ₦7.2 million in donations yet failed to provide details or evidence of the sources.
• ₦5.28 million was spent on salaries for four to five staff, even though no single staff member earned more than ₦25,000 monthly.
• Over ₦1.7 million was reportedly spent on electricity, ₦285,000 on DStv/GOtv subscriptions, ₦78,000 on “public relations and entertainment”, and ₦1 million on transport and accommodation—all lacking adequate justification.
• A controversial line item showed ₦14 million received as rent “in advance”, with no associated documentation to validate it.
The committee’s report concluded that there was no transparency in the management of the union’s finances during the period under review.
Following the probe report, the NUJ-FCT Congress, in its sitting on 12 April 2025, adopted a series of resolutions aimed at protecting the Union’s integrity and financial stability.
The Council issued a public disclaimer against the following individuals, who have been warned to cease parading themselves as representatives of the NUJ-FCT Council:
• Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, currently Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State.
• Mr Patrick Osadebamwen, immediate past Chairman and journalist with the Nigerian Tribune.
• Mr Ochiaka Ugwu, former Secretary of the Council and staff of People’s Daily.
In addition, Mrs Gloria Essien has been cautioned against representing the Council at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as she no longer holds any official position within the NUJ-FCT.
The union also called on UBA Bank to freeze the NUJ-FCT Council’s accounts still under the control of former signatories (Account Nos: 1022765326, 1014057659, and Dollar Account: 3002941904), pending a full transition to the current leadership.
Furthermore, the NUJ-FCT will:
• Publish a formal disclaimer in national dailies.
• Notify the employers of the former officials about the resolutions.
• Alert government institutions, corporate bodies, and the general public not to engage with the aforementioned individuals on behalf of the NUJ-FCT Council.
The Council’s Secretary, Mr Jide Oyekunle, who anchored the press briefing, reiterated that the probe’s findings and the resolutions reflect the collective will of the NUJ-FCT Congress and the determination to protect members’ interests.
News
Finally , Lagos Court frees Quadri, young Nigerian who stood before Obi’s convoy in viral photo
The Apapa Magistrate Court, Court 9 sitting at Orege, Ajegunle – Sikiru Adagun Courthouse, has discharged and acquitted Alabi Quadri, the young Nigerian who became a national symbol of courage during the 2023 general elections, for standing boldly in front of the convoy of then-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
He was discharged and acquitted of conspiracy to commit felony and armed robbery.
The court held that he has no case to answer.
Quadri was brought to court on Thursday, April 17, 2025, after spending months in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos.
The Nigerian Correctional Service produced Quadri at the Apapa Magistrate Court, located at Orege, Ajegunle—Sikiru Adagun Courthouse (Court No. 9).
Quadri’s case was initially slated for a hearing on April 28, 2025.
However, human rights lawyer and activist Inibehe Effiong had revealed that both he and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) requested that the date be moved forward, and the court granted the application.
Quadri gained widespread attention after a viral video showed him, a teenage boy at the time, fearlessly standing before Peter Obi’s campaign convoy—a moment many Nigerians interpreted as a symbol of youthful defiance and hope during a tense election period.
The media reported that Effiong revealed that Alabi’s recent painful descent into the Nigerian prison system was not due to any major crime but rather a result of prolonged malice and resentment harboured by some self-acclaimed ‘area boys’ (thugs) in his neighbourhood.
According to the lawyer, these individuals felt entitled to a portion of the unexpected attention and goodwill, including financial support, that Alabi received following his moment in the spotlight during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Effiong, who recently visited the Apapa Magisterial Court in Lagos alongside Alabi’s mother and legal colleagues, stated that Alabi’s journey to Kirikiri prison was not only heartbreaking but appeared to be the outcome of a vendetta fuelled by local ‘area boys’ who felt entitled to the financial support Alabi received after his viral moment.
Effiong revealed that Alabi was abducted in January near his home while returning from work by the ‘area boys’ who had been threatening him.
They allegedly took him to Amukoko Police Station (popularly known as Pako Police Station) and accused him of being involved in street fights.
However, Alabi was then arraigned before a Magistrate Court along with four other individuals, said to be complete strangers to him, on allegations of conspiracy to commit armed robbery with cutlasses.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged victims were robbed of N579,000, comprising cash and four mobile phones.
Effiong also emphasised that despite being a minor, Alabi had been detained with adults at Kirikiri since January, pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
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