President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed state governments to accelerate the implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme ahead of October 1, saying more Nigerians must begin to experience measurable reductions in transportation costs.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by the State House on Saturday, said the initiative was designed to cushion the impact of rising energy costs by translating Nigeria’s gas resources into cheaper public transportation.
The President disclosed that he had met with the governors of the 36 states on August 27, during which they agreed on the objective of reducing transportation costs for Nigerians from October 1.
He said an implementation committee had subsequently been established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to Tinubu, the committee, PI-CNG & EV, state governments and other stakeholders are currently identifying priority transport corridors, determining appropriate interventions and making arrangements for the programme’s expansion.
States Already Recording Savings
The President cited several examples of cheaper transportation services already operating across the country.
In Borno State, he said, CNG-powered and electric public transport services convey passengers for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
In Kaduna, 100 CNG-powered buses provide free transportation on major routes. The buses reportedly carried approximately 3.2 million passengers in their first year of operation, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transport costs.
Tinubu also disclosed that CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport in Oyo State had reduced the Lagos–Ibadan fare from approximately ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
Other examples cited by the President include:
Adamawa: Alternative-energy transit services have reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.
Enugu: The deployment of 100 CNG buses has brought the Enugu–Nsukka fare down from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
Plateau: Government-supported buses transport about 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200, compared with commercial fares exceeding ₦500.
Abuja: Passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on selected routes enjoy a 40 per cent fare reduction through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Niger: The Suleja–Abuja fare has fallen to ₦550 from approximately ₦800.
Abia: The state has deployed 40 electric buses, with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.
The President gave examples of the fare reductions on Abuja commuter routes, including Area 1–Gwagwalada, where fares had dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900; Nyanya, from ₦700 to ₦420; and Wuse, from ₦400 to ₦240.
“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said.
Nigeria Must Reduce Exposure to Global Energy Crisis
The President said disruptions to global energy supplies were once again putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and driving up transportation costs worldwide.
While acknowledging that Nigeria could not control developments in international energy markets, he argued that the country could reduce its vulnerability by exploiting its abundant gas resources.
“That is what we have been doing,” he said.
Tinubu disclosed that his administration had, over the past three years, invested in developing a CNG transportation ecosystem across the country.
According to him, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, while Nigeria now has over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations.
He said the figures were continuing to increase.
The President also rejected calls for a return to the petrol subsidy regime, describing it as costly and economically damaging.
“At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested,” he said.
Instead, he urged Nigerians and state governments to accelerate the development of cheaper energy alternatives.
More States Expand CNG Operations
Tinubu noted that the adoption of alternative-energy transportation was spreading across the country.
He disclosed that Edo State had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and was expanding its conversion and refuelling network.
Delta, Kwara and Lagos states, he said, were expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
The President commended governors and state governments that had moved quickly, but urged others to intensify preparations for the October 1 target.
He called on the states to work closely with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversions and fleet deployment, and facilitate the infrastructure required for the programme.
“Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares,” he told the governors.
Tinubu assured state governments, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors of continued Federal Government support for the expansion of CNG infrastructure, conversion capacity and access.
“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings,” the President said.
“Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.”
