The Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), Lagos State Chapter, is actively educating its members about the benefits and risks associated with using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in tricycles. According to Alhaji Azeez Istijabah, the association’s zonal chairman, operators need to be aware of the precautions required to operate safely with CNG. For instance, they must avoid smoking and exposure to open flames due to the high flammability of gas.
The association is responding to the introduction of 3,000 CNG tricycles by the Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to help ease transportation challenges. The shift to CNG is seen as a potential economic relief for tricycle operators, who have been affected by the rising cost of petrol. However, Istijabah emphasized the importance of safety measures, such as maintaining the recommended number of passengers and avoiding overloading.
Mr. AbdulAkeem Sabiu, TOOAN’s branch chairman in Abule-Egba, added that while CNG offers a cheaper alternative to petrol, the government needs to improve access to CNG refilling stations. He urged authorities to establish more accessible stations for commercial tricycles to refuel efficiently, especially since access is currently limited in certain areas like Agidingbi, where a CNG station is located but tricycles are restricted from operating.
