Delta State Government says it is impressed with the pace of work for the building of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations in Asaba and Warri months after signing Memorandum of Understanding with NIPCO, to set up CNG filling stations in parts of the state.
Mr. Onoriode Agofure, the State Commissioner for Transport made this known in Asaba while fielding questions from newsmen on the CNG stations under construction.
Agofure noted that NIPCO CNG station in Warri was at a completion stage with equipment expected to be moved in before its inauguration.
The Commissioner hinted that he regularly inspects the CNG sites in Asaba and Warri to ensure that the gas company keeps to the terms of the MOU.
He gave an assurance that NIPCO would deliver the CNG filling stations as expected
According to the Commissioner, “ it will please me to inform you that work has commenced and is ongoing rapidly. I do visit the site once in every week to follow up on the level of work that is being done.”.
“I am very pleased with what I am seeing so far; I am very sure that they will meet the time line that they gave.”.
” As for the one in Warri, that one is waiting equipment and they have confirmed to me that it will be fully be in operational next month”
On the conversion of fuel used vehicle to CNG vehicle, Agofure stated, ” I do know that NIPCO is building a conversion centre in the CNG filling station here in Asaba under construction. For that of Warri, I will find out if there is a conversion centre.”
”I will try as much as possible to see how we can even donate conversion kits to transporters and to people who actually need them. There will be criteria that will be met before that process begins .”
”It is very expensive actually to convert a vehicle. It’s about a million naira basic amount.”
”When time comes, I will see how we can access the 2025 budget votes for conversion to CNG vehicles for maybe for civil servants and others”.
The Delta State Commissioner for Transport said his ministry had received nine hundred live jackets for users of waterways transportation from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy .
He hinted that the nine hundred live jackets were the first batch of the three thousand, five hundred live jackets being expected in the collaboration between Delta State Government and the Federal Government.
Mr Agofure said the second and third batches of the live jackets were being expected next month.
He described the collaboration as key to ensuring safety in the maritime sector .
He urged users of waterways to be safety conscious to minimize the rate of casualties during boat mishaps.
Agofure said, ”In the maritime sector, we were able to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The first batch of live jackets had been received, and it’s about 900 . The second and third batches will be coming, say maybe next month. So, that’s also a way for us to increase safety of lives and property in riverine areas”
”We are doing as much as we can on sensitization of stakeholders about safety measures in water transportation.”, Agofure added.
Source: Sam Erhunmwunsee, Radio Nigeria Asaba
