President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians are already experiencing reductions in transportation costs in several states, following the Federal Government’s push for compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric-powered transport.
Tinubu made the declaration while providing an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, ahead of the October 1 target for wider reductions in transportation fares across the country.
According to the President, the initiative is already producing measurable savings for commuters in different parts of the country, with some routes recording substantial reductions compared with fares charged by conventional commercial operators.
Tinubu cited Borno as one example, saying CNG-powered and electric public transport services were conveying passengers for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.
He also cited Kaduna, where he said 100 CNG-powered buses provide free transportation on major routes. According to the President, the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers during their first year of operation, resulting in savings of more than N3.5bn in transportation costs for commuters.
In Oyo State, Tinubu said CNG buses deployed under the Pacesetter Transport initiative reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment.
The President also pointed to Adamawa, where he said alternative-energy transport services had reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, including a reduction on one route from N8,000 to N4,000.
In Enugu, he said the deployment of 100 CNG buses had brought the Enugu-Nsukka fare down from N2,500 to N1,500. In Niger State, passengers using the Suleja-Abuja service were reportedly paying N550 instead of about N800.
Tinubu further highlighted transport interventions in Plateau State, where government-supported buses reportedly carry about 13,000 commuters daily for N200, compared with commercial fares of more than N500.
In the Federal Capital Territory, the President said a partnership involving the National Union of Road Transport Workers had produced a 40 per cent reduction on some routes served by CNG-converted commercial vehicles.
He gave examples including Area 1-Gwagwalada, where the fare reportedly fell from N1,500 to N900; Nyanya, from N700 to N420; and Wuse, from N400 to N240.
Tinubu said the reductions were part of a broader effort to shield Nigerians from the effects of high energy and transportation costs by exploiting Nigeria’s natural gas resources.
He disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG nationwide, while more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations were operating across the country, according to figures cited in his update.
The President had earlier announced plans for an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations, on top of 500 stations previously planned, bringing the proposed nationwide rollout to 1,000 stations.
Tinubu said the Federal Government and state governments were working with transport unions and other stakeholders to expand the programme, with October 1 set as the target for more Nigerians to begin experiencing measurable reductions in transport costs.
The administration has positioned CNG as an alternative to petrol following the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigeria’s gas resources can help reduce exposure to fluctuations in global oil and energy markets.
However, the extent to which CNG savings have translated into lower fares remains uneven across the country. Nairametrics reported that while some CNG operators have lower fuel expenses, commuters in many areas continue to face relatively high fares because of factors including operating costs, limited refuelling infrastructure and gaps in the CNG network.
Tinubu therefore urged state governments to accelerate the rollout of CNG and electric transport services and ensure that lower energy costs translate directly into cheaper fares for passengers.
