The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has appealed for inclusion in the federal government’s free conversion of commercial vehicles to a compressed natural gas scheme.

The South-West vice-president, Kolawole Aina, made this appeal in an interview in Lagos on Friday.

The government had, in July, commenced the free conversion of petrol and diesel-powered commercial vehicles to compressed natural gas-powered mode to cut the transportation cost nationwide.

It started the exercise in Abuja and Lagos, urging commercial transport owners to key into the scheme by bringing their vehicles to be converted. The government said that using CNG would reduce the cost of transportation by over 40 per cent.

It said commercial transporters under their different unions, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, would benefit from the initiative.

The AUATON vice-president said the federal government should consider including AUATON in the scheme. He said that AUATON was a trade union like the NURTW and RTEAN and should also be captured in the scheme.

According to Mr Aina, AUATON is registered and recognised by the federal government, so it should not be sidelined.

According to the union leader, if the issue of conversion to CNG is removed from AUATON members, they will be able to cater for their needs despite the high cost of vehicle parts.

(NAN)