President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed states to accelerate the rollout of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, with the Federal Government targeting measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the initiative was agreed upon during his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors and is being implemented through a committee established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The committee, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is working with states, PI-CNG & EV and other stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors and determine appropriate interventions.
The President cited existing CNG and electric-vehicle initiatives across several states as evidence that cheaper energy can translate into lower transport fares.
In Borno, he said, CNG-powered and electric public transport services charge between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
Kaduna, according to the statement, has 100 CNG buses providing free transportation on major routes. The buses reportedly carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion.
Tinubu also highlighted Oyo, where CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport initially reduced the Lagos–Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200.
Other examples cited include Adamawa, where alternative-energy transit services have reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent; Enugu, where the Enugu–Nsukka fare reportedly fell from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500; and Plateau, where government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200 compared with commercial fares exceeding ₦500.
In Abuja, the President said, a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has produced a 40 per cent fare reduction on several routes using CNG-converted commercial vehicles.
The statement said fares on Area 1–Gwagwalada, Nyanya and Wuse routes had fallen from ₦1,500 to ₦900, ₦700 to ₦420, and ₦400 to ₦240 respectively.
Tinubu further cited reduced fares on the Suleja–Abuja route in Niger State and a 50 per cent subsidy on fares for 40 electric buses deployed in Abia.
“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” the President said.
He said the Federal Government’s push had become more urgent because of renewed disruptions in global energy supplies and pressure on petrol and diesel prices.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s gas reserves provide an opportunity to reduce the country’s exposure to international energy-price shocks.
He said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG over the past three years, while more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations were now operating nationwide.
The President rejected calls to return to the former petrol subsidy regime, arguing that it consumed trillions of naira and left Nigeria vulnerable to movements in international oil prices.
Instead, he called for faster deployment of domestic alternatives, including CNG and electric transport.
Tinubu said Edo currently has 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles. He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos were expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had received 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
He urged all state governments to sustain preparations ahead of October 1 by working with transport unions and operators, supporting vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and facilitating the infrastructure needed for alternative-energy transport.
The President said the ultimate objective was to ensure that savings from cheaper energy were reflected in the fares paid by commuters.
“Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” Tinubu said.
