Tinubu to governors: Scale up CNG transport, global energy disruptions putting pressure on petrol prices

President Bola Tinubu has told governors across the country to scale up the CNG-powered public transport, saying the initiative is already reducing transport burden on Nigerians in different states.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, the president urged state governments to maintain the momentum towards October 1 and ensure that savings from cheaper energy are passed on to Nigerians through lower fares.

Tinubu said he held a meeting with the governors on August 27, where it was agreed that more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.

He said an implementation committee for the national affordable CNG transit programme was “subsequently established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chaired by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara”.

The president noted that disruptions to global energy supplies were putting pressure on 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,” Tinubu said.

“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.”

He said the government must accelerate the development of cheaper alternatives in the country, adding that there was already evidence across the states of what was possible when cheaper energy translated into lower transportation.

“In Borno, CNG-powered and electric public transport services are moving commuters for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600,” he said.

“In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport brought the Lagos–Ibadan fare down from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment.

“In Adamawa, alternative-energy transit services have reduced fares by as much as 50 percent, including journeys from N8,000 to N4,000.

“In Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu–Nsukka fare has been reduced from N2,500 to N1,500.”

Tinubu said in Plateau, government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters daily for N200, compared with more than N500 commercially.

He also said passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja commuter routes receive a 40 percent fare reduction through the government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

“Area 1 to Gwagwalada, for example, has fallen from N1,500 to N900; Nyanya from N700 to N420; and Wuse from N400 to N240,” he said.

According to him, passengers on the Suleja–Abuja route in Niger state are paying N550 compared with about N800, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 percent.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” the president said.

‘WE MUST MOVE FASTER’

He commended governors and state governments that had moved quickly but said more still had to be done.

“I believe more still has to be done. The federal government will support you to scale further,” he said.

He said Edo already had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and is expanding its conversion and refuelling network.

He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos states are expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.

“I encourage every state to maintain the momentum towards October 1,” he said.

“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 president assured that the federal government would 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.

“Now we must move faster and scale this so many more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” he said.President Bola Tinubu has told governors across the country to scale up the CNG-powered public transport, saying the initiative is already reducing transport burden on Nigerians in different states.