Commercial tricycle operators in Kaduna have lamented the prolonged disruption in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) supply, saying they have spent days at filling stations without getting supplies and have urged government to intervene.
The operators spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Wednesday in Kaduna.
They expressed concern over the prolonged shortage of CNG, saying the development has disrupted their businesses and subjected them to considerable hardship.
A visit to a CNG facility along Kachia Road revealed long queues of commercial tricycles with operators waiting for supplies.
Mr Maisamari Dauda, one of the operators told NAN that some drivers had spent up to two days at the facility without receiving gas, expressing frustration over the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of supply.
“We have been here for two days now, and there is still no sign of any supply. We do not know when the gas will be available, and this is seriously affecting our daily activities,” he said.
He explained that the situation was particularly difficult for operators who had abandoned petrol-powered tricycles for the CNG-powered ones because of the affordability.
Another operator, Jubril Saleh, said there were speculations among some transporters that the growing patronage of CNG facilities might be affecting the business interests of petrol dealers and filling stations.
He, however, acknowledged that the allegation had not been established, adding that operators were also concerned by reports that gas tankers had been prevented from moving at certain locations.
Saleh said another major concern among the operators was the possibility that the disruption could erode the financial benefits they had enjoyed since switching to CNG.
For his part, Ibrahim Mamman, said many commercial tricycle drivers had maintained their fares for over two years now in spite of prevailing economic challenges, largely because of the savings from using CNG.
He cited fares on some routes, including Sabo to Gora, which he said remained between N200 and N300, depending on the operator.
Mamman said the prolonged waiting at the facility meant losing valuable working hours and income, particularly for drivers who depended on daily earnings to meet their family responsibilities.
He urged the relevant authorities to address the situation before it resulted in increased transportation costs for commuters.
Miss Abigail Aboi, a popular female operator along Sabo Expressway said the growing number of tricycles waiting at the facility demonstrated the extent to which commercial transporters had embraced CNG as an alternative fuel.
She urged for improved coordination of gas distribution, saying operators who had invested in converting their tricycles to use CNG needed assurance of regular supply to sustain their businesses.
The operators appealed to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to investigate the disruption and ensure adequate supply to CNG facilities across the state.
Efforts by NAN to obtain comments from the management of the affected filling station and other filling station owners on the reported supply disruption were unsuccessful, as those approached declined to comment. (NAN)
