President Bola Tinubu has urged state governments to accelerate implementation of the CNG Transit Programme ahead of October 1, saying more Nigerians should begin to experience measurable reductions in transportation costs.
Tinubu said the Federal Government and the 36 state governors had agreed on the objective during a meeting on August 27, with the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme expected to expand access to cheaper transportation across the country.
The President said the implementation committee, established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had already begun identifying priority transport corridors and determining appropriate interventions.
CNG Transit Programme Gets Urgent October 1 Deadline
The President said the CNG Transit Programme has become more urgent amid disruptions to global energy supplies, which are putting renewed pressure on petrol, diesel and transportation costs.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria cannot control developments in global energy markets but can reduce its exposure by expanding the use of locally available natural gas and other alternative energy sources.
He urged states to work with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversions and fleet deployment, and facilitate the infrastructure required to expand affordable transportation.
Tinubu highlighted several examples of states where CNG and electric-powered transport services have already reduced fares.
In Borno State, CNG-powered and electric public transport services are reportedly carrying commuters for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
In Kaduna State, 100 CNG-powered buses provide free transportation on major routes. The buses reportedly carried about 3.2 million passengers during their first year, generating more than ₦3.5 billion in estimated transport savings for commuters.
The President also pointed to results from other states as evidence of the potential impact of the CNG Transit Programme.
In Oyo State, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reportedly reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from approximately ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
In Adamawa, alternative-energy transit services have reportedly reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, bringing an ₦8,000 fare down to ₦4,000.
In Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu-Nsukka fare has reportedly fallen from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
Plateau State’s government-supported buses reportedly carry approximately 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200, compared with fares exceeding ₦500 charged by commercial operators.
The CNG Transit Programme has also expanded to several commuter routes in the Federal Capital Territory.
Through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on selected Abuja routes reportedly receive a 40 per cent fare reduction.
The President cited several examples, Area 1 to Gwagwalada: ₦1,500 reduced to ₦900, Nyanya: ₦700 reduced to ₦420, Wuse: ₦400 reduced to ₦240
In Niger State, passengers travelling on the Suleja-Abuja route reportedly pay ₦550, compared with approximately ₦800 previously.
Abia State, meanwhile, has deployed 40 electric buses, with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.
Tinubu said the savings already being experienced by commuters demonstrate that cheaper energy can translate into lower transportation costs.
The Federal Government says it has spent the past three years developing infrastructure for the CNG Transit Programme and the wider CNG transportation ecosystem.
According to Tinubu, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, while the country now has more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations.
The President said the figures continue to increase as the programme expands.
He also cited developments in several states.
Edo State has 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and is expanding its conversion and refuelling network.
Delta, Kwara and Lagos are also expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
Tinubu said the government’s response to rising global energy costs should not be a return to the former petrol subsidy system.
He argued that the subsidy regime consumed trillions of naira and left Nigeria exposed to fluctuations in international oil prices.
Instead, he said the country should accelerate the development of cheaper domestic energy alternatives, including CNG-powered transportation.
The President maintained that Nigeria’s gas resources provide an opportunity to reduce the country’s vulnerability to international energy market disruptions.
Tinubu commended states that have moved quickly but called for greater momentum ahead of October 1.
He urged every state government to work with transport unions and commercial operators to increase vehicle conversions and deploy more CNG and electric buses.
States were also encouraged to facilitate the infrastructure required for the expansion of alternative-energy transportation.
A key priority, according to the President, is ensuring that savings generated by cheaper energy are passed directly to commuters through lower transport fares.
The Federal Government says it will continue supporting the expansion of CNG infrastructure and access across Nigeria.
Tinubu said the government would also expand vehicle conversion capacity and create an enabling environment for state governments, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate.
The President’s message to state governments is that the existing CNG infrastructure and conversion programme should now be scaled up so that more Nigerians can benefit from reduced transportation costs.
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