The adoption of Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative fuel has brought significant relief to commercial transport operators by reducing their daily energy expenses, a National Union of Road Transport Workers official, Alhaji Abiola Azeez, has said.
Azeez, who is a member of the Lagos State Executive Council of the NURTW and Zonal Chairman of Zone C TOOAN, spoke on Saturday during a safety monitoring exercise in Lagos.
He said the difference in operating costs between petrol and CNG was substantial, particularly for tricycle operators.
According to him, a tricycle operator using petrol could spend between N15,000 and N17,000 on fuel in a day, while the same operator running on CNG could spend roughly N3,500 to N4,000.
He attributed the reduction to the Federal Government’s efforts to encourage the use of CNG and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the transition to the alternative fuel.
Azeez said expanding CNG infrastructure nationwide would further encourage commercial transport operators to adopt the fuel by making refuelling facilities more readily available.
He also acknowledged government efforts to introduce CNG-powered buses and tricycles into the transport system, noting that some commercial vehicles had been converted to CNG without operators bearing the installation costs.
The NURTW official equally welcomed the Federal Government’s road rehabilitation projects, arguing that better roads, combined with lower fuel expenses, could ease the financial burden on transport operators and ultimately benefit commuters.
He called on beneficiaries of the various government programmes to support the administration politically, urging them to mobilise their families, friends and associates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Azeez said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had demonstrated satisfactory performance at both the federal and Lagos State levels and should therefore receive continued backing.
Union Begins Quarterly Vehicle Safety Checks
Meanwhile, Azeez disclosed that the union had introduced a quarterly safety inspection programme aimed at improving the condition of commercial vehicles operating across Lagos.
The exercise will cover commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles, with union officials visiting motor parks every three months to identify vehicles requiring repairs or routine maintenance.
He said the initiative was designed to tackle preventable road crashes by ensuring that commercial vehicles remained in safe operating condition.
As part of the programme, the union plans to assist operators with basic maintenance materials such as tyres, mirrors, windscreen wipers and engine oil where deficiencies are identified.
Azeez said braking systems would receive particular attention during the inspections because defective brakes could result in serious crashes and fatalities.
He urged transport operators to respond promptly to maintenance concerns identified during the inspections and to work with union officials to keep their vehicles roadworthy.
He further appealed to commercial transporters to obey Lagos traffic laws and cooperate with government agencies responsible for transportation and road safety.
According to him, maintaining road safety requires cooperation among operators, unions and government authorities.
Azeez also commended ongoing investment in Lagos’ public transportation network, including the Blue, Green and Red Line rail projects, saying the expansion of transport infrastructure would provide long-term benefits for residents and commercial operators alike.
