The Federal Government has outlined plans to introduce compressed natural gas transport services at Bayero University, Kano, to reduce commuting costs for students and staff.
An awareness event took place at the university on Thursday, 8 October. Implementation is scheduled for the following week, according to a report published on Friday.
What the programme involves
The Special Palliative Relief on University Transportation programme, known as SPROUT, operates under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles.
The Guardian reported that Louisa Afu represented the initiative’s executive chairman, Ismaeel Ahmed, at the event. The programme involves FEMADEC Energy and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.
Plans include CNG refuelling stations, vehicle conversion centres and the phased deployment of buses and tricycles at participating institutions. The intended services would support travel within and around university campuses.
Bayero University’s dean of student affairs, Mukhtar Ibrahim Bunza, welcomed the intervention, according to The Guardian’s account. guardian.ng
Part of an existing university scheme
SPROUT predates the Kano awareness event. In a 29 May official statement, the presidential initiative announced the commissioning of a FEMADEC CNG station and conversion centre at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
That facility forms part of a wider initiative covering 20 universities, intended to ease transport costs for students and staff following the removal (pci.gov.ng)
Fares and operating details remain unclear
The Guardian’s report does not specify fares, routes, fleet size or an exact service commencement date at Bayero University.
The announcement therefore establishes a planned intervention rather than confirming that cheaper journeys are already available. Students and staff still need operating details to know when they can use the services and how much they will pay.
