The National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association has called for an official investigation into the alleged diversion of 2,000 CNG tricycles promised during the presidential campaign.

The group claims the tricycles, meant for its members, were handed over to private companies now reselling them at inflated prices.

It further accuses the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative of failing to deliver on the original pledge.

Speaking on the development, the Programme Director and Chief Executive of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative,
Michael Oluwagbemi, dismissed the allegations made by NATOMORAS President Usman Gwoza, according to The Punch.

He challenged the group to provide evidence of any presidential pledge to allocate 2,000 CNG tricycles specifically to their union.

“So, he gave a private promise to him. Can he show us the agreements the president signed with him?” Oluwagbemi asked.

“Where is the written agreement between him and the president? When you say somebody promised you something, wouldn’t you show where the person promised you? The video, at least. Even if the president promised it, let’s assume he did. Which he did not.”

“The president did not discuss anything during the campaign.”

In contrast, NATOMORAS National President, Usman Gwoza, maintains that the promise was made publicly and is backed by official documents and statements from campaign officials.

“All the letters that are given to us, invitations to Lagos and Port Harcourt, Kaduna, were all signed by him. All the letters were signed by him,” Gwoza stated.

Referring to an October 1 event, Gwoza said, “Then secondly, on October 1, he delivered his speech. I also delivered my speech. And he mentioned that the support that they wanted to give as per the campaign promise was 2,000 CNG to be given to our union. And I have the report; I have the documents, everything.”

He accused Oluwagbemi of diverting the CNG tricycles and collaborating with private companies to commercialise them, contrary to the original intent of the initiative.

“So, he’s conniving with some other companies, releasing these tricycles for them, and he is giving them out on hire purchase for N2.5m. Then the company collecting from him is giving it out for N3.5m. The thing that they said they should give us for the campaign promise.”

Gwoza also alleged preferential treatment of other unions: “The CNG buses have been handed over to NARTO, RTEAN. Whether it is because he can’t play with them. So, he thinks that we NATOMORAS are nobody and cannot do anything.”

Supporting his claims, Gwoza referenced NATOMORAS’ official involvement in the presidential campaign, arguing it reinforced the group’s eligibility for the promised CNG tricycles.

“Based on our capacity, the Presidential Campaign Council gave us a directorate called the Director of Community Transport. We have the letter signed by the PCC and the Secretary PCC. And we have the one that the party gave us recognition that they are going to work with us. I have that letter,” he said.