President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed state governments to accelerate the implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, with the objective of delivering measurable reductions in transportation costs to Nigerians from October 1.
The President gave the directive in a statement on Saturday, September 19, while providing an update on the Federal Government’s efforts to expand Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered transportation across the country.
Tinubu said the decision followed his August 27 meeting with the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states, where they agreed on the objective of reducing transportation costs through cheaper energy alternatives.
He disclosed that an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme had subsequently been established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and chaired by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to him, the committee, PI-CNG and EV, state governments and other stakeholders are already working to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions and put necessary arrangements in place.
The President said the urgency of the programme had increased against the backdrop of the current global energy crisis, which was putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and, consequently, transportation costs.
Tinubu said experiences from different states had demonstrated that cheaper energy could translate into significant reductions in transport fares.
“In Borno, CNG-powered and electric public transport services are moving commuters for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600,” he said.
He added that Kaduna had deployed 100 CNG-powered buses providing free transportation on major routes across the state.
“In their first year of operation, the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transport costs,” the President stated.
Tinubu also cited the impact of CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport in Oyo State, saying the Lagos-Ibadan fare dropped from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
In Adamawa, he said, alternative-energy transit services had reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.
The President said Enugu, where 100 CNG buses had been deployed, had reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
In Plateau State, government-supported buses reportedly transport about 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200, compared with more than ₦500 charged by commercial operators.
Tinubu further disclosed that, through the Federal Government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja routes were benefiting from fare reductions of about 40 per cent.
He listed 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 also cited the Suleja-Abuja route in Niger State, where passengers pay ₦550 compared with about ₦800 previously, while Abia State has 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 governors and state governments that had moved quickly to implement alternative-energy transport initiatives but said more needed to be done.
He assured the states that the Federal Government would support them to scale up their programmes.
According to Tinubu, disruptions to global energy supplies are once again exerting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and driving up transportation costs worldwide.
“ Nigeria cannot control events in global energy markets. But as a gas-rich nation, we can reduce our exposure,” he said.
The President said his administration had, over the past three years, deliberately invested in developing a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria.
He disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles had so far been converted to CNG, while the country now had more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations.
Tinubu said the figures were increasing daily.
He also rejected calls for a return to the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that the policy had consumed trillions of naira and exposed the Nigerian economy to fluctuations in international oil prices.
“At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested,” he said.
The President instead called for faster deployment of cheaper domestic energy alternatives, particularly CNG.
He noted that Edo State already had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and was expanding its conversion and refuelling infrastructure.
Delta, Kwara and Lagos States, he said, were also 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 ahead of October 1 by working closely with transport unions and commercial operators, supporting vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and facilitating the infrastructure needed for the programme.
He stressed that the central objective should be to ensure 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.
The President added: “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.”
Read the full statement below:
STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
President Tinubu gives an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme
On August 27, I met with the governors of our 36 states, and we agreed on a clear objective. From October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs.
We subsequently established an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
I am aware of the considerable work already underway by the committee, PI-CNG & EV, the States, and other critical stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions, and put the necessary arrangements in place.
This work has become even more urgent amid the current global energy crisis.
We already have evidence from across Nigeria of what is possible when cheaper energy translates into cheaper transportation.
In Borno, CNG-powered and electric public transport services are moving commuters for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.
In Kaduna, 100 CNG-powered buses are providing free transportation on major routes across the state. In their first year of operation, the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers, saving commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transport costs.
In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport brought the Lagos–Ibadan fare down from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial deployment.
In Adamawa, alternative-energy transit services have cut fares by as much as 50 per cent, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.
In Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu–Nsukka fare has been reduced from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
In Plateau, government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters every day at ₦200, compared with more than ₦500 commercially.
Through our partnership with the NURTW, passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja commuter routes receive a 40 per cent fare reduction. Area 1 to Gwagwalada, for example, has fallen from ₦1,500 to ₦900; Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420; and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240.
In Niger, passengers on the Suleja–Abuja service are paying ₦550 compared with about ₦800, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.
These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings.
I commend the governors and state governments that have moved quickly. However, I believe more still needs to be done. The Federal Government will support you to scale further.
Disruptions to global energy supplies are once again pressuring petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide.
Nigeria cannot control events in global energy markets. But as a gas-rich nation, we can reduce our exposure.
That is what we have been doing.
Over the last three years, my administration has deliberately invested in building a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria. 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.
At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested.
We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home.
It is reassuring to see the movement spreading. Edo already has 50 CNG buses in active service. Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles while rapidly expanding its conversion and refuelling network. Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.
I encourage every state to maintain the momentum towards October 1. 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.
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.
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.
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU
September 19, 2026