The Federal Government through its Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) has signed agreements with Airport Taxi Operators and 800 cabs for a 30% discount for passengers on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport routes in Abuja.
The taxis are to secure free of charge conversion of their vehicles to CNG fueling, which is over 70% cheaper than the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol and consequently discount their passengers fares.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, P-CNGI Program Execution Coordinator, Mr. Folarin Oworu said the incentive came on the heels of the surge in petrol prices.
He said although the discount will start from 30 per cent, it may increase to 40% upon the conversion of all the fleets.
“We have all seen the surge in price to implement because of the increase in petrol prices.
“And now because of this conversion incentive program, we will ensure we pass on the savings to the customers.
” This 30 per cent we are doing now, we are hoping when we have fully converted the complete fleet, may be it can be reduced more than 40,” he said.
He said the conversion partners were up and doing to hasten the take off of the discount.
There airport taxis operators own about 800 and the discount will become effective upon the conversion of their 50 per cent.
Speaking, spokesperson of the Abuja Air cabs operators, Mr. Aliyu Ali, said with the CNG, the operators may not need to service their vehicles regularly.
According to him, in the next two to three weeks, most of the carbs would have been converted for the implementation of the 30 per cent discount.
He said: “Signing this agreement today, we are looking forward to when we see most of our vehicles converted within a very short time.
“May be two to three weeks time and we start business that is when you will see the airport taxi fare will start coming down and passengers will start patronizing us more than the other cabs.”
He expressed gratitude to President Ahmed Tinubu for the free of charge conversion of cabs.
A taxi driver, Emmanuel Sunday, appealed to the P-CNGI to establish more CNG points on the airport Road, noting the only one fueling point is always congested.
A conversion centre operator, Tunis Salma, said in line with the pact with the P-CNGI , they were prepared to sign all the carbs available for conversion.
He said they have the capacity to execute the project in accordance with the agreement.
He said: “Based on the agreement signed by the airport taxis and the conversion centres, we the conversion centres are willing to convert all the available cars. And we have all it takes to convert all the cabs.”
