Gov. Umaru Bago,of Niger has inaugurated 200 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses with President Bola Tinubu, Renewed Hope Agenda to reduce the suffering of the citizenry.
Bago said during the ceremony in Minna on Wednesday that the inauguration was in commemoration of one year of his administration.
The governor also inaugurated 50 security vehicles to support security agencies, 50 calibrated trucks for refuse disposal and 50 transformers for distribution.
He disclosed that he has approved N25 billion for the payment of pension and gratuity and has also approved the promotion of civil servants due for promotion.
“This is because we are committed to the welfare of all citizens in the state,” he said.
Bago also approved the renovation and reconstruction of the state secretariat as well as the construction of a new judiciary complex to accommodate judicial staff in the three arms zone.
He said the CNG buses would be used to transport students of basic and tertiary schools as well as medical workers and security personnel for free while the civil servants would be given a discount in transport fare.
Bago stressed that the plan of the state government was to purchase 1,000 of the CNG buses within six months, and an additional 1,000 electric vehicles for interstate and intrastate transportation.
He said the effort was to empower youths and women to reduce emission in line with his administration’s green economy initiative and drive the state towards a clean energy and clean economy initiative.
The governor also disclosed that the state government plans to plant 1.5 million trees from now to December with the support of $1.9 million from Acresal.
Earlier in his welcome address, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the State Government, said the inauguration was in fulfillment of the promise made by the governor. (NAN)
