Vice president Yemi Osinbajo on Monday hinted that the federal government’s plan for the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol will start with commercial vehicles.

Vice President Osinbajo, who spoke while fielding questions from State House reporters at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the experimentation of the plan had begun in Edo State.

The Vice President, who said the commercial vehicles would be able to use both gas and petrol after the conversation, said Dangote had turned over 4000 trucks to CNG motors.

He said that it was one of the options government was targeting to provide succour to the people.

Osinbajo, while speaking on the plan to use CNG, said: “One of those issues we have looked at is how to reduce the cost of gas and petrol. How do we ensure that people are able to go about their businesses buying cheaper energy?

“One of the ways is by using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). And government has committed to do the conversion. First of all, we are starting with commercial vehicles. Most commercial transporters will have the capacity to use both gas and petrol. That is already being done, experimentally in Edo State. Dangote, for instance, has converted all his trucks to the use of CNG, and that is 4000 or even more of those trucks.

“It is not a particularly difficult thing to do for the commercial transporters, it may be expensive for the individual but that is also part of the commitment of government, to be able to do the conversion, and the price of gas comes at about almost half the price of petrol.”

The Vice President said Muhammadu Buhari understood the pains and burdens Nigerians were going through because of the economic aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that that was the reason why the Federal government is considering palliatives that can offer succour to the people.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) just announced a three-month ultimatum to IOCs engaged in cabotage trade to register all vessels used in coastal and inland water trade or risk sanctions.

At the expiration of the three months, NIMASA would notify relevant government authorities and the IOCs to bar vessels without valid cabotage certificates.

Operators are also to renew their Cabotage Operational Certificate/License for the vessels within the period.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the Maritime notice was part of efforts to ensure strict enforcement of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 and Guidelines on Implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.

“Ultimately, our intention is to build and continue to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in the shipping industry in line with relevant international regulations.”

Reacting, former president of the Nigerian Ship-owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo, threw his weight behind the actions of NIMASA, insisting that the move was long overdue.

Jolapomo who also blamed the system for the behaviour of foreign liners operating in Nigerian waters said the ban, if not truncated by the powers that be in the Maritime sector, is able to curb the excesses of owners of vessels.

“I say with due sense of responsibility that the action was long overdue. Most foreign vessels operating in Nigeria waters come from outside. They do not have any stake in the development of the sector. All they are interested in is to make their money and go.”

Maritime lawyer and human rights activist, Olisa Agbakoba, also hailed NIMASA on this. The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said those who evade paying government tax and to be sanctioned.

“Those who do not pay tax are law breakers and should not be allowed to operate. The Ministry of Finance is devising new ways of funding the 2021 budget and part of the move is to block all areas of revenue leakages in the maritime industry.”