Nigerians Will Witness Drop in Transportation Costs From October 1, Tinubu Insists

President Bola Tinubu has insisted that Nigerians will begin to experience reductions in transportation costs from October 1 as the Federal Government expands the use of compressed natural gas.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday while providing an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, urging state governments to ensure that savings from cheaper energy are passed directly to commuters through lower fares.

He said the objective was agreed with the 36 state governors during a meeting on August 27, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

According to the President, states are expected to work with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversions and fleet deployment.

Tinubu said several states were already recording lower fares through CNG-powered and electric buses. In Borno, he said, public transport services charge between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge N300 to N600.

He also cited Kaduna, where 100 CNG buses have provided free transportation on major routes, carrying about 3.2 million passengers and saving commuters more than N3.5bn.

In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during initial deployment, while alternative-energy services in Adamawa reduced fares by up to 50 per cent.

Tinubu said 100 CNG buses in Enugu reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from N2,500 to N1,500, while government-supported buses in Plateau carry about 13,000 commuters daily at N200, compared with more than N500 charged commercially.

He added that passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja routes receive a 40 per cent fare reduction. Area 1-Gwagwalada fell from N1,500 to N900, while Nyanya dropped from N700 to N420.

The President said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG nationwide and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations operating.

He said global energy disruptions were increasing pressure on petrol and diesel prices, making the expansion of cheaper alternatives increasingly urgent.

Tinubu urged states to maintain momentum towards October 1 and ensure that lower energy costs translate into lower fares for citizens. He said the Federal Government would continue supporting CNG infrastructure, conversion capacity and wider participation by states, transport operators and private investors.