Tinubu: Nigerians Already Enjoying Cheaper Transport Fares
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says Nigerians are already benefiting from reduced transportation costs in several states following the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric-powered public transport services.
The President made this known on Saturday while providing an update on the Federal Government’s National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, which aims to deliver further reductions in transportation costs from October 1, 2026. (State House Abuja)
Tinubu said the Federal Government and governors of the 36 states agreed during a meeting on August 27 to pursue measures that would translate the lower operating cost of CNG into cheaper transport fares.
An implementation committee was subsequently established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to coordinate the programme with states and other stakeholders. (State House Abuja)
The President cited several examples of reduced fares already recorded through CNG and electric-powered transportation.
In Borno, he said commuters were paying between ₦50 and ₦100 on some CNG and electric transport routes, compared with commercial fares of ₦300 to ₦600.
In Kaduna, Tinubu said 100 CNG buses were providing free transportation on major routes and had carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, resulting in claimed savings of more than ₦3.5 billion for commuters.
He also cited Oyo State, where he 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.
According to the President, fares have also been reduced in Adamawa, Enugu and Plateau through alternative-energy and government-supported transport services.
In Abuja, Tinubu said passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on selected routes were benefiting from a 40 per cent fare reduction through a partnership involving the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
He cited the Area 1-Gwagwalada route, where the fare reportedly dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900, Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420, and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240. (Channel Television)
The President further stated that more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG, while the country now has over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations. (State House Abuja)
Tinubu urged state governments to accelerate the programme ahead of October 1 by working with transport unions and commercial operators, supporting vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and developing the necessary infrastructure.
He also rejected calls for a return to the former petrol subsidy regime, arguing that Nigeria should instead expand cheaper energy alternatives such as CNG.
The President said the Federal Government would continue supporting the expansion of CNG infrastructure and conversion capacity, with the aim of ensuring that savings from cheaper energy are reflected in the fares paid by commuters.
“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings. Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” Tinubu said. (State House Abuja)
Reported by Akintade Samson
