By Francis Ekeh, Abuja

The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) has disclosed its intention to partner with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMT), and the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas initiative ( P-CNGI) to deepen knowledge and use of Compressed Natural Gas  in the 774 local governments of the federation.
Both parties made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at a stakeholders meeting held at the NITT’s Abuja Liaison Office. The partnership according to the agencies is in line with the current administration’s efforts to reduce carbon emission in the country.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General/Chief Execuitve of the NITT,   Dr. Bayero Salih-Farah said the institute has long developed its capacity in the area of CNG. “We have long prepared for the CNG before Federal government adopted it as a policy. NITT has developed competencies in converting some of our vehicles and those of other organizations and individuals from fossil fuel to CNG
“We have the technology and the people to drive the project which we know would be of great benefit to majority of Nigerians. It will reduce the cost of transportation and by implication, the cost of goods and services in Nigeria.
“Several public and private organizations have been approaching us for partnership on the CNG and one of them is the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON. With ALGON partnership,  we intend to bring the technology to the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, through the 774 local government areas and FCT Area Councils, because local government is the closest to the people. We also have with us, the Presidential Committee on CNG Initiative (P-CNGI) our parent ministry, the Federal Ministry of Transportation is also interested in the partnership. And with these key bodies, we are optimistic of reaching every part of this country and sensitizing motorists and training the technicians on the operation and usage of CNG. Therefore, today’s meeting to seek areas of collaboration on the CNG”, he said
The DG added that “The NITT has already sent its engineers for training oversee both locally and internationally to equip them with the requisite skills they need to provide  services in all 774 LGA in order to develop roadmap for the actualization of the project,”
Speaking at the meeting, the Honourbale Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali who was represented by the Director, Road Transportation and Mass Transit Alhaji Musa Ibrahim said “There are millions of vehicles on our roads today that are running on petrol and we have been approached by investors who want to partner with us to see that we have as many cars as possible converted to CNG,”
He added that the “federal government believes that service centers for CNG conversion should not be in urban centres alone which is why we are partnering with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria to ensure that we also have the service centers closer to the people at the grassroots,”
Responding, the Director-General of ALGON, Hon. Itiakpo Ikpokpo said the Association has welcomed the partnership and would collaborate with the federal government to achieve the CNG actualization plan
In the same vein, Mrs Omolara Ogunleye, Director, Business Development with the Presidential Committee on Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) applauded the move by NITT and ALGON and pledged the support and cooperation of the presidential committee. Said her “ We at the P-CNGI are happy to be associated with this collaboration and on behalf of the Committee I hereby pledge our support in ensuring that the CNG is widely used across the states of the federation in view of its huge benefits both to motorists and to the nation’s economic development”.