By Danladi Ahmed
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has said that plans by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote to invest $280m in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative amounts to taking full advantage of the cheaper alternative to petrol introduced by President Bola Tinubu administration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG which commended Dangote for the huge investment described Dangote’s plan for full transition of the fleet of trucks used by his Cement company as an affirmation of the cost effectiveness and the safety valves that the CNG provides for vehicles.
While TMSG also noted that this undertaking by Dangote is the greatest advertisement to popularise the CNG alternative, it also says: We are aware that the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote first disclosed his intention to go the CNG way sometime earlier in the year at the Annual General meeting (AGM) of Dangote Cement PLC in Lagos where he said that all the delivery trucks will be running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) within a few years. Interestingly, he cited the new policy of the Tinubu administration as an inspiration.
“Now almost six months after that declaration, the Cement company through its Group Managing Director Arvind Pathak has released a timeline for what it described as a long-term plan to transit its entire fleet to CNG.
“For us, it is a bold declaration of support for the Presidential initiative especially against the backdrop of the massive $280m investment going into it at a time opposition elements are embarking on a coordinated effort to demarket the CNG.
“It is gratifying that Dangote Cement has taken delivery of 1,500 mono fuel CNG while expecting an additional 1,600 trucks, which, according to the company, will bring the total to 3,100 before the end of the year.
“What we find remarkable and noteworthy is that this is is a firm which parent company has just set up the largest single train refinery in the world yet it is opting for CNG rather than premium motor spirit (PMS) to power its truck.
“This is truly impressive, especially as Dangote himself was emphatic in saying that the move is a demonstration of support for President Tinubu’s commitment to cheaper and cleaner energy.
“And we make bold to say that there is no better advertisement for the Tinubu initiative than this bold step of a 100% fleet conversion to CNG by operators of one of Nigeria’s largest truck haulage.
“We are also aware that Dangote group has a CNG station in Obajana which has a capacity of refuelling 3,000 trucks while another one is said to be underway in Ibese to service the fleet
“We hope other companies in the logistics industry will take a cue from Dangote and embrace the initiative that is bound to cut down their cost of operations by at least 70% as a result of cheaper CNG fuel.”
TMSG also urged Nigerians who are still sceptical about the CNG initiative to see the Dangote investment as a veritable evidence of its safety.
