The Federal Government has said Compressed Natural Gas can significantly reduce fuel and transportation costs, citing a traveller whose fuel expenditure reportedly dropped from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG.

The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

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Osanipin said the example demonstrated the potential of CNG to deliver substantial savings as the government expands infrastructure and access to alternative energy across the country.

He said the traveller was able to refill with gas in Kano, demonstrating the expanding availability of CNG beyond major commercial centres.

“So, a lot of people are already benefiting from this policy, and more and more will come now that we are having more people and more firms going into it and investing in it,” he said.

According to Osanipin, the number of companies licensed to retail gas had increased sharply from about four to 81, describing the development as evidence of growing private-sector participation in the Federal Government’s CNG initiative.

However, he acknowledged concerns that some commercial transport operators benefiting from lower CNG costs had yet to pass the savings on to commuters through reduced fares.

“We have a lot that are already doing it; fleet operators are already benefiting from this. So what we are pushing for again, because someone asked me that question, is that I have seen a lot of people benefiting from it, but they refuse to transfer the price to the masses.

“So that is going to be the next stage. But we just want to make sure that all the infrastructure and everything is coming. Then we now see enforcement of some of these policies,” he said.

Osanipin stressed that adequate infrastructure, including filling stations, mobile refuelling units and gas production facilities, remained critical to making the CNG initiative sustainable.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government had taken delivery of the first batch of electric vehicles promised to civil servants, describing it as the beginning of a broader rollout of cleaner-energy vehicles.

Okin Biscuits has resumed production after 17 years, marking a major step in the revival of the once-popular Nigerian biscuit brand.

The company announced the development on Wednesday after one of its rehabilitated production lines at its factory in Offa, Kwara State, successfully produced biscuits during a technical trial run.

The production line had been shut down after vandals reportedly stole cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic components.

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Okin said Tuesday’s production was strictly a technical trial to determine whether the 17-year-old line could be brought back to life, rather than a test of the finished product.

“For the first time in 17 years, biscuits rolled off one of our rehabilitated production lines at the factory in Offa. We had to rebuild the line after having all cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic components stolen,” the company said.

The company added that more work was required before the biscuits could return to shops, including further testing, calibration and rehabilitation of the plant.

“There is still work ahead. More testing. More calibration. More rehabilitation. And, of course, getting that familiar Okin taste and quality exactly right before the biscuits return to the market,” it stated.

Okin also disclosed that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company connected the factory to a 33KVA Band A electricity grid on the same day, describing the development as another major milestone in its revival.

Founded in 1980 by the late Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, Okin Biscuits became a household name among Nigerians who grew up in that era.

However, the company eventually shut down amid operational challenges, including poor infrastructure, unstable power supply and growing competition from cheaper imported biscuits.

Celebrating the latest development, the company said, “But today, we celebrate progress. The machines are turning. The ovens are firing. The biscuits are beginning to roll out again. One step at a time. Okin is coming back.”

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of health workers allegedly involved in the sale of hospital equipment donated to a healthcare facility in Umaisha Development Area of the state.

The governor described the alleged sale of the equipment as a serious act of misconduct and corruption, stressing that such actions showed a lack of concern for patients and the healthcare needs of residents.

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Sule gave the directive on Wednesday during the inauguration of eight commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and board members at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall, Government House, Lafia.

He directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, to investigate the matter and ensure that anyone found responsible was brought to justice.

The equipment was donated by Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, member representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, who reportedly purchased the items with his personal funds to improve conditions at the primary healthcare facility.

According to Sule, the lawmaker had provided 50 orthopaedic mattresses, more than 50 ceiling fans and about 40 standing fans after becoming concerned about the condition of patients at the facility.

“A very honourable member from Umaisha/Ugya recently bought a lot of mattresses and all kinds of fans, standing fans, ceiling fans and the rest of that because he was concerned about what his local primary healthcare was undergoing,” Sule said.

The governor said Sa’ad later returned to the facility and discovered that the donated items could not be accounted for.

“Few days back, he returned there and discovered that the officials of the hospital had actually sold those items. This is a terrible thing that will happen if you have people who do not mean well for Nasarawa State,” he said.

Sule said he was expecting a report from the Commissioner for Health by the end of the week.

“I am waiting for the honourable commissioner, and I expect that report by the end of this week,” the governor added.

The directive followed a confrontation on Monday between Sa’ad and staff of General Hospital, Umaisha, over the whereabouts of the equipment he said he donated to the facility.

In a video of the confrontation circulated on social media, the visibly angry lawmaker questioned hospital officials over the missing items.

“Doctor, you remember the last time I spoke with you about those orthopaedic mattresses? You remember what you told me? For Allah’s sake, don’t allow me to get upset,” Sa’ad was heard saying.

He also demanded answers over the missing fans.

“Where are the ceiling fans? Where are the ceiling fans? I bought more than 50 ceiling fans. The standing fans, I bought about 40. Where are they?” he asked.

The lawmaker also expressed concern over the condition of patients at the hospital and demanded to see the mattresses following reports that they were being moved between wards.

The state Ministry of Health is expected to investigate the matter, determine what happened to the donated equipment and establish responsibility for any alleged wrongdoing.