LAGOS (SUNDIATA POST)- The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to the federal and the Lagos State governments to create easy access refilling depots for commercial tricycles using Compress Natural Gas (CNG).
Alhaji Azeez Istijarba, one of the NURTW chieftains, said this on Thursday at the Abule Egba motor park, in Lagos, while sensitising union members to the CNG usage.
He called on them to create additional refilling depots for commercial CNG operators in the state.
Istijabah, the Zonal Chairman Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) under NURTW, said the new initiative would bring about a reduction to the current high cost of transportation in the state.
“That’s why we are appealing to both the federal and Lagos State governments to create another refilling depot that will ensure free access to our CNG operators to enable them operate without challenges.
“This new development will automatically bring positive changes to the standard of living of both the transporters and the operators.
“Currently, there’s a difficulty in refilling the CNG tricycles in terms of distance and operational restrictions within the Agidingbi Ikeja area.
“Our members are not allowed to access the CNG station in the area. So, that’s the reason we are urging the government at all levels to bring urgent solutions for the benefits of the masses,” he said.
He also appealed to the government to give approval to some filling stations in the Abule-Egba, Alagbado, Ifako-Ijaiye, Alimosho and Agege areas free access to the facility. to ease commercial operations of the tricyclists.
Istijabah also thanked the NURTW Lagos State Chairman, Alhaji Mustapha Sego, for his support in introducing CNG tricycles into the Lagos State transport system.
He also urged Sego to intervene to the present situation of refilling challenges facing by the CNG tricycle operators in Lagos state.
“We have started operation with CNG tricycles on Wednesday after the official unveiling at Alagbado under Alimosho Local Government of the state.
“Today, we sensitised our members on the gas usage and refilling process.
“So, we want government to come to our rescue by giving approval to some filling stations in our area for prompt refilling and access,” he said.
NAN reports that the NURTW Lagos State Chapter, on Wednesday, unveiled 3,000 CNG commercial tricycles worth N10.2 billion to ease transport challenges in the state.
NAN also reports the CNG tricycles have been deployed to the state to ease the cost of transportation among the residents and at the same time reduce economic hardship among the residents.(NAN)
