Tinubu Orders Faster CNG Rollout, Targets Lower Transport Fares From October 1
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the acceleration of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme to ensure that more Nigerians begin to benefit from reduced transportation fares from October 1, 2026.
Tinubu gave the directive in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, saying the Federal Government was working with state governments, transport unions, commercial operators and other stakeholders to scale up the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles in public transportation.
The President said he reached an agreement with the 36 state governors on August 27 to pursue measurable reductions in transportation costs, following which an implementation committee was established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The committee, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is working with PI-CNG & EV, state governments and other stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions and put the necessary arrangements in place.
Tinubu said the initiative had become more urgent amid disruptions to global energy supplies, which have placed renewed pressure on petrol and diesel prices and, consequently, transportation costs.
He cited ongoing CNG and electric transport initiatives across several states as evidence that lower-cost energy could translate into cheaper transportation for commuters.
In Borno State, the President said CNG-powered and electric public transport services were carrying commuters for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
He said Kaduna State had deployed 100 CNG-powered buses providing free transportation on major routes, with the buses carrying about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transport costs.
In Oyo State, according to the President, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
Similarly, alternative-energy transit services in Adamawa State have reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000, while the deployment of 100 CNG buses in Enugu reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
Tinubu also said government-supported buses in Plateau State carry about 13,000 commuters daily at a fare of ₦200, compared with more than ₦500 charged by commercial operators.
He noted that through the Federal Government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on some Abuja commuter routes were benefiting from a 40 per cent fare reduction.
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The President cited the Area 1-Gwagwalada route, where fares had fallen from ₦1,500 to ₦900; Nyanya, from ₦700 to ₦420; and Wuse, from ₦400 to ₦240.
He added that commuters on the Suleja-Abuja route in Niger State were paying ₦550, compared with about ₦800 previously, while Abia State had deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.
“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said.
The President commended state governments that had moved quickly to deploy alternative-energy transportation systems but said more needed to be done to expand the benefits nationwide.
He said the Federal Government would support states in scaling up their programmes, particularly as global energy market disruptions continue to affect fuel prices and transportation costs.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s status as a gas-rich country provides an opportunity to reduce its exposure to volatility in global energy markets.
He said his administration had, over the past three years, invested deliberately in developing a CNG transportation ecosystem across the country.
“Today, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted; we have over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country, and these figures are increasing daily,” he said.
Tinubu also rejected calls for a return to the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that the policy had imposed substantial fiscal costs on the country and exposed the economy to fluctuations in international oil prices.
He instead called for faster expansion of CNG and other cheaper energy alternatives already being developed domestically.
The President said the adoption of CNG-powered transportation was gaining momentum, noting that Edo State had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano State had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and was expanding its conversion and refuelling network.
He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos states were expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
Tinubu urged all states to sustain momentum towards the October 1 target by working with transport unions and commercial operators, supporting vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and facilitating the infrastructure required for CNG and electric mobility.
He particularly tasked state governments with ensuring that savings generated from cheaper energy were passed on to commuters through lower fares.
“The Federal Government will continue to support the scaling of CNG infrastructure and access, expand conversion capacity, and create the enabling environment for states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate,” he said.
“Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.”
By PRNigeria
