Kogi State has joined the national push for alternative energy in the transport sector as Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo on Thursday commissioned the first batch of compressed natural gas (CNG) tricycles under a federal government initiative.

The scheme is aimed at reducing transport costs and cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal on residents.

The governor, represented by Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Atuluku Victor Levi, unveiled 19 out of 50 CNG-powered tricycles allocated to the state and handed them over to the leadership of the National Association of Tricycles and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS).

He said the rollout would drastically reduce fares and provide relief for commuters across the state.

Governor Ododo praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing the initiative, describing it as a “people-centered policy” that reflects a government with a human face.

He stressed that the CNG alternative not only cuts transportation expenses but also promotes cleaner, eco-friendly energy use at a time when the country is grappling with economic adjustments.

Beyond cheaper fares, the governor emphasized the potential of the initiative to generate jobs for youths in Kogi, saying the transport sector could serve as a sustainable pathway for empowerment.

He called on beneficiaries to ensure proper maintenance of the tricycles to maximize their impact.

Chairman of NACTOMORAS in Kogi State, Hon. Amos Onuche Isah, welcomed the commissioning as a major turning point for commercial operators.

He said the tricycles would improve livelihoods for thousands of families that rely on daily income from the transport sector while easing the financial pressure on passengers.

The event featured the symbolic commissioning and official handover of the CNG tricycles to the association. Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would spread across more local government areas in the coming months, creating a long-term transformation in the state’s transport economy.