The Sokoto State Transport Authority (SSTA) has commenced the conversion of its petrol-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce operational costs.
The General Manager of the authority, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Sokoto on measures to modernise the agency’s fleet and improve transportation services.
Muhammad said “the conversion programme began with the authority’s metropolitan vehicles, which provide subsidised transportation services to women.”
He said 20 vehicles were being converted, with each vehicle costing N750,000.
According to him, “the vehicles have six-cylinder engines and consume significant amounts of petrol.”
He said the rising cost of petrol had increased the cost of operating the vehicles, prompting the authority to explore CNG as a cheaper alternative.
He said that the authority’s drivers operating the metropolitan vehicles pay N2,000 daily for operations between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., while passengers pay between N150 and N300 per trip, depending on distance.
He stated that “the subsidised fares were part of the state government’s intervention to make transportation more affordable for residents.”
The General Manager also disclosed that the authority had procured seven new 18-seater buses at a cost of N511 million to strengthen its inter-state transport operations.
He said the buses, purchased from the authority’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), cost N73 million each and had already arrived in Sokoto.
Muhammad said ”the buses would soon be unveiled by Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State.”
He explained that although each bus had a capacity of 18 passengers, the authority would limit occupancy to 16 passengers to enhance comfort and safety.
The general manager further disclosed that the authority had ordered three additional buses of similar capacity at a cost of N219 million.
Muhammad said “the CNG conversion programme would be extended to the authority’s larger buses after the completion of the metropolitan vehicles.”
The General Manager reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and accountability in managing the authority for sustainable transportation service delivery in the state.
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