The Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria in Lagos says it is educating its members about the benefits of using compressed natural gas.

Its zonal chairman, Azeez Istijabah, said in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos that this would help members take precautionary measures during their operations.

The National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos, on  October 16, unveiled its first 3,000 CNG commercial tricycles worth N10.2 billion to ease transport challenges.

Istijabah said, “Though there are economic advantages in converting petrol tricycles to gas, precautionary measures need to be put in place to operate effectively. At first instance, operators must not smoke or operate in a naked fire environment.

“Smoking is highly prohibited while operating CNG tricycles because anything gas is highly inflammable.”

The union leader also urged members to avoid overloading their tricycles, urging them always to maintain three passengers at a trip.

“Operators should not allow passengers in the front seat. Overloading the tricycles is very dangerous. Operators need to be very careful and take cognizance of various precautionary measures,” he added.

AbdulAkeem Sabiu, the association’s branch chairman in Abule-Egba, said the new development would improve and encourage the operators in the transport business.

According to him, many of the operators are lamenting the high cost of petrol.

He said that the new cheaper CNG initiatives by the federal government would bring succour to the transporters and commuters.

(NAN)