President Tinubu
Susan Abayomi
President Bola Tinubu has directed state governments to accelerate the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric-powered public transportation as part of efforts to reduce transport costs for Nigerians from October 1, 2026.
The President gave the directive on Saturday while providing an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, which he said was developed to ensure that the benefits of cheaper alternative energy translate into lower transportation costs for commuters.
Tinubu said the initiative was agreed upon with the 36 state governors during a meeting on August 27, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
He said the committee, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is working with states and other stakeholders to identify priority transport routes and determine appropriate interventions.
According to the President, more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG nationwide, while efforts are continuing to expand conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure.
Tinubu also highlighted examples of states where CNG and electric-powered transportation have already contributed to lower fares.
In Borno State, he said, CNG-powered and electric public transport services carry passengers for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
He said Kaduna State operates 100 CNG-powered buses that provide free transportation on major routes and carried about 3.2 million passengers during their first year, resulting in reported savings of more than ₦3.5 billion for commuters.
In Oyo State, the President said the deployment of CNG buses by Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
He also cited reductions in transport fares in Adamawa and Enugu, as well as government-supported transport services in Plateau State.
Tinubu said CNG-powered vehicles could significantly reduce fuel costs compared with petrol-powered vehicles, creating an opportunity for transport operators to pass the savings on to commuters.
The President urged the states to fast-track implementation so that Nigerians can begin to experience measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.
The latest directive comes as the Federal Government continues to expand infrastructure supporting the transition to CNG and other alternative energy sources, with an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations previously ordered nationwide, bringing the planned network to 1,000 stations.
Tinubu said the focus on intra-state transportation was deliberate because state governments have significant influence over the sector and commuters experience the impact of transport costs directly in their daily lives.
The Federal Government and state governments are expected to continue working through the implementation framework to translate the lower operating costs associated with CNG and electric transportation into more affordable public transport fares.
