President Bola Tinubu says more Nigerians should begin to enjoy measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, as the Federal Government accelerates the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.
The President stated this in a statement on Saturday, saying the initiative followed his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors, where they agreed on the need to reduce transportation costs for Nigerians.
An implementation committee has since been established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF and chaired by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
President Tinubu said the committee, PI-CNG and EV, state governments and other stakeholders are working to identify priority transport corridors and determine appropriate interventions.
He cited several states where CNG and electric-powered transport schemes are already delivering significant savings to commuters.
In Borno State, North-East Nigeria, CNG-powered and electric public transport services charge between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
In Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria, 100 CNG buses have provided free transportation on major routes, carrying about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transport costs.
The President said CNG buses deployed in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200, while alternative-energy transport services in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria have cut fares by as much as 50%.
In Enugu State, South-East Nigeria, the deployment of 100 CNG buses reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
President Tinubu also highlighted the impact of CNG-converted vehicles on Abuja commuter routes, saying passengers are benefiting from a 40% fare reduction through the Federal Government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
He said fares from Area 1 to Gwagwalada have fallen from ₦1,500 to ₦900, Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420, and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240.
The President said the savings already being recorded demonstrate what is possible when cheaper energy translates into cheaper transportation.
He noted that disruptions to global energy supplies are putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide.
According to President Tinubu, Nigeria’s gas resources provide an opportunity to reduce the country’s exposure to global energy market pressures.
He disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG over the last three years, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations now operating
across the country.
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The President said Edo State has 50 CNG buses in active service, Kano State has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles, while Delta, Kwara and Lagos States are expanding CNG-supported transport services.
Akwa Ibom State, in South-South Nigeria he added, has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
President Tinubu urged all state governments to maintain the momentum ahead of October 1 by working with transport unions and commercial operators, supporting vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and facilitating the infrastructure required.
He stressed that the savings from cheaper energy must reach Nigerians through lower transportation fares.
The President said the Federal Government would continue to support the expansion of CNG infrastructure and conversion capacity, while creating an enabling environment for states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors.
He also rejected calls for a return to the petrol subsidy regime, describing it as costly and leaving the economy exposed to movements in international oil prices.
President Tinubu said Nigeria has the gas and is building the infrastructure needed to harness it, adding that the priority now is to accelerate the programme so that more Nigerians can feel the savings in the fares they pay every day.
The President’s statement is coming barely 24 hours after his African Democratic Congress, ADC, opponent in the 2027 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar doubled down on his call for return of fuel subsidy as a world media conference. The former Vice President offered to handover his fuel subsidy plan to the President Tinubu administration to implement.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
