Lagos State Government on Wednesday announced a major step toward modernising freight movement and improving road safety with the approval of a N150bn intervention for the rollout of 2,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks. The announcement was made during a closed-door briefing at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa, where senior government officials and leaders of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, were in attendance.
Speaking at the briefing, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the N150bn plan to address long-standing safety concerns on major highways. He explained that the intervention would be implemented in phases, beginning with an initial N50bn commitment aimed at replacing old and unreliable trucks with cleaner CNG-powered models.
According to him, the Governor’s decision was driven by the recurring cases of container-related accidents, frequent vehicle breakdowns, and damage to public infrastructure caused by aging freight trucks. Hon. Sola Giwa said, “This initiative will take rickety trucks off our roads, reduce accidents and improve the movement of goods across the state.” He also noted that the initiative was being executed in partnership with the United Bank for Africa, UBA.
During the session, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation Logistics, Hon. Hassan Adekoya, revealed that the Governor had approved mandatory driver safety assessments for operators. He said the assessments would include drug and substance tests, as well as periodic eye examinations to ensure that drivers are fit to operate the new trucks. He added that drivers diagnosed with eye conditions would receive corrective eyewear at no cost.
NARTO representatives at the meeting expressed strong support for the programme, describing it as timely and beneficial for the transport sector. The National President of NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, praised both the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government for policies that promote cleaner energy and better transport infrastructure. He also highlighted the ongoing training programmes for operators who will manage the new CNG trucks once they are introduced.
The Chairman of the NARTO Lagos State Chapter, Alhaji Kayode Odunowo, said the initiative would improve safety and professionalism among haulage operators in the state. Also speaking, the South-West Zonal Chairman of NARTO, Alhaji Kola Ogunyemi, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for showing commitment to modernising the sector and encouraged members to fully support the transition.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.
