The House Committee on Land Transportation says it will collaborate with the National Institute of Transport Technology, (NITT), Zaria, to ensure affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion for Nigerians.
Blessing Onuh, Chairman, House Committee on Land Transportation, told newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna, during an oversight visit by the committee in Zaria on Tuesday.
She said Nigeria was clamoring for conversion of cars from petrol to CNG, which was cheaper and cleaner energy, hence an urgent need to make it affordable to Nigerians.
The committee chairman said she would keep discussing with the Director-General of NITT towards making the conversion more affordable for Nigerians.
However, the committee lamented that the institute was one of the Federal Government’s pilot institutions for the petrol/CNG conversion, adding that most conversion centres were yet to be completed.
She noted that Nigerians were suffering due to high cost of petrol, saying, “the institute has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that Nigerians are at ease especially on transportation aspects.”
Ms Onuh said she was amazed by the infrastructure in place at the institute; adding, “institute is under-utilised, hence the urgent need for improved publicity for the institute.”
According to her, the improved publicity is to inform Nigerians and the global community on the services rendered by the institute for better patronage to enhance economic growth of the country.
She, therefore, called on the Director-General of NITT for increased publicity for the institute, while pledging to support the institute through increasing funding towards harnessing its mandate.
In his remarks, the Director-General, NITT, Bayero Farah, said in 2022, there was drastic reduction in budgetary allocation for the institute, which made many projects to remain uncompleted.
He, therefore, appealed for increased budgetary allocation for the institute’s programmes and activities.
Mr Farah said the institute’s Act was enacted 40 years ago, adding that a lot of the provisions in the Act require amendment.
The D-G said the 9th Assembly passed the Act but it couldn’t secure presidential assent, “therefore, let me use this medium to appeal to the committee to push for the amendment of the institute’s Act for optimal performance.”
NAN
