President Bola Tinubu has urged state governments to ensure that savings from cheaper CNG-powered transportation are passed on to Nigerians through reduced fares from 1 October 2026.
The President made the call in a statement on Saturday while providing an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, which was established following his 27 August meeting with the 36 state governors.
According to President Tinubu, the objective agreed with the governors was for more Nigerians to begin experiencing “measurable reductions in transportation costs” from October 1.
“I encourage every state to maintain the momentum towards 1 October. Work with transport unions and commercial operators. Support conversion and fleet deployment.
“Facilitate the infrastructure required. Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares,” he said.
Tinubu said several states were already recording reductions in transport fares through the deployment of CNG-powered and electric buses.
He cited Borno State, where CNG-powered and electric public transport services carry commuters for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.
In Kaduna, the President said 100 CNG-powered buses had provided free transportation on major routes, carrying about 3.2 million passengers during their first year and saving commuters more than N3.5 billion in transport costs.
President Tinubu also said the deployment of CNG buses to Pacesetter Transport in Oyo State reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial phase.
He added that alternative-energy transit services in Adamawa had reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, from N8,000 to N4,000.
In Enugu, the President said 100 CNG buses had reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from N2,500 to N1,500, while government-supported buses in Plateau State carry about 13,000 commuters daily at N200, compared with commercial fares of more than N500.
He also highlighted CNG-converted commercial vehicles operating on several Abuja routes through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, saying the initiative had resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in passenger fares.
He said fares from Area 1 to Gwagwalada had dropped from N1,500 to N900, while the Nyanya route fell from N700 to N420 and Wuse from N400 to N240.
