President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians are already benefiting from lower transportation costs in several parts of the country following the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric-powered public transport services.
Tinubu made this known on Saturday while giving an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, saying the Federal Government and state governments were working to ensure that the savings from cheaper energy are passed directly to commuters through reduced fares.
The President said the initiative followed his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He said the government’s target is for more Nigerians to begin experiencing measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, 2026.
Tinubu cited several examples of existing fare reductions across the country. In Oyo State, he said CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
He also said CNG and electric transport services in Borno were carrying passengers for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charged between ₦300 and ₦600. In Kaduna, he said 100 CNG-powered buses were providing free transportation on major routes and had carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion.
According to the President, transport fares have also fallen in other locations. He cited a reduction from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000 in Adamawa, ₦2,500 to ₦1,500 on the Enugu-Nsukka route, and reductions on several Abuja commuter routes, including Area 1-Gwagwalada from ₦1,500 to ₦900 and Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420.
Tinubu said more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations currently operating nationwide. He urged state governments to accelerate the deployment of CNG buses, vehicle conversions and supporting infrastructure ahead of October 1.
The President also maintained that the government would not return to the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that Nigeria should instead expand alternative energy sources and reduce its exposure to fluctuations in global petroleum prices.
“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said, while urging states to work with transport unions and commercial operators to ensure that lower energy costs translate into lower fares for commuters.
The announcement comes amid continuing concerns over the cost of transportation and rising petrol prices. Recent reports from Abuja, for instance, quoted civil servants as saying increased petrol prices had pushed up their daily transportation expenses.
The Federal Government is therefore targeting wider implementation of the affordable CNG transport programme from October 1, with the stated objective of making cheaper transportation available to more Nigerians.