From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), has deployed 120 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles to empower youths in Adamawa State.
Speaking at the empowerment programme in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on Wednesday, a representative of the Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG), Mr Jide Owolowo, said the initiative was aimed at supporting Nigeria’s transition to cleaner and more affordable transportation.
Owolowo said the PI-CNG had so far converted more than 120,000 vehicles from petrol to CNG, while efforts were ongoing to expand refuelling infrastructure and develop local technical capacity.
He added that the initiative had facilitated the distribution of more than 4,000 CNG-powered tricycles across the country.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Operations, CREDICORP, Mrs Olanike Kolawale, said the corporation had a broader mandate to deploy 10,000 CNG vehicles nationwide, with Adamawa being the fourth state to benefit from the rollout.
Kolawale explained that the initiative connects consumers with productive assets through licensed financial institutions, manufacturers and vendors, with responsible credit repayment at the centre of the programme.
The Managing Director of Sub-City Global Consult, Malam Umar Tolihat Imam, said the partnership was designed to empower young Nigerians through mobility services and sustainable economic opportunities.
Imam said the beneficiaries would make instalment payments on the tricycles, enabling them to own productive assets, create employment, generate income and build sustainable livelihoods.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the tricycles responsibly, comply with the terms of the programme and make their instalment payments as scheduled.
He said, “This initiative is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, which places strong emphasis on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, job creation and inclusivity in economic development.
“The initiative was supported by financial institutions, manufacturers and other partners involved in the financing, supply and mobilisation of beneficiaries.”
In his remarks, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri expressed satisfaction with the intervention, describing it as a good investment in the younger generation.
Represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Rumpe Anthony, Fintiri said the initiative would provide a source of income and financial independence for youths, urging beneficiaries to ensure timely repayment of the loans to enable others to benefit.
He described the CNG tricycles as a cleaner and sustainable transportation option capable of supporting economic activity across the state.
The 120 CNG-powered tricycles are expected to provide beneficiaries with opportunities for income generation while contributing to cleaner mobility and economic activity in Adamawa State.