By Olusegun Samuel Precious
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set October 1, 2026 as the target date for the nationwide implementation of measures to reduce transportation fares through the expanded use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric-powered vehicles.
The President disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying the target was agreed during his meeting with the 36 state governors on August 27, where they resolved that more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transport costs from October.
Following the meeting, an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme was established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The committee, working with the Presidential CNG & EV Initiative (Pi-CNG), state governments and other stakeholders, has commenced work to identify priority transport corridors and interventions.
President Tinubu urged governors to accelerate ongoing CNG programmes, stressing that savings from cheaper energy must translate into lower fares, especially amid renewed disruptions to global energy supplies pushing up petrol and diesel prices.
> “We already have evidence from across Nigeria of what is possible when cheaper energy translates into cheaper transportation,” Tinubu said.
He cited examples already recorded:
– Borno: CNG and electric buses charge N50-N100 on routes where commercial operators charge N300-N600.
– Kaduna: 100 CNG buses providing free services have carried about 3.2 million passengers in one year, saving commuters over N3.5 billion.
– Oyo: CNG buses under Pacesetter Transport reduced Lagos-Ibadan fare from N8,000 to N3,200 during initial deployment.
– Adamawa: Fares cut by 50%, from N8,000 to N4,000.
– Enugu: Enugu-Nsukka fare reduced from N2,500 to N1,500 after deployment of 100 CNG buses.
The President said the Federal Government, through the Presidential CNG Initiative, has converted over 120,000 vehicles nationwide with over 100,000 conversion kits in the works, while the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund is financing over 100 gas projects including 15 mother stations and 86 daughter stations. He has also directed rollout of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations, bringing total planned stations to 1,000 nationwide.
