Abuja — The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has applauded the Dangote Group’s local refining investment, describing it as a transformative step for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and road transport operations.
Speaking at NARTO’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), National President Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman called the Dangote Refinery a “patriotic investment” and highlighted its impact on logistics, job creation, and sector efficiency. He also noted the importation of roughly 4,000 trucks to support nationwide petroleum distribution.
CNG Initiative Enhances Mass Transit
Othman emphasized NARTO’s collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG), which has deployed new fleets of 14-seater CNG/Petrol buses, 56-seater hybrid CNG/sel buses, and 46-seater CNG/sel buses for intra-city and interstate services. According to Othman, the initiative has reduced transport costs by over 30 per cent and promises additional bus allocations to expand coverage.
Regulatory Support and Sector Partnerships
The NARTO president praised the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for its regulatory oversight and called for continued fair pricing mechanisms to ensure profitability and ility. He also stressed the importance of partnerships between government and industry stakeholders to improve efficiency, safety, and reliability in petroleum distribution.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on 2025 achievements, Othman lauded President Bola Tinubu for supporting the CNG initiative and ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects. The AGM served as a platform to review accomplishments, address challenges, and plan for continued growth in Nigeria’s transport and petroleum sectors.
Leave a comment