President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s 36 state governments to accelerate the implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, saying commuters should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation fares from October 1, 2026.

President Tinubu said the directive followed his August 27 meeting with state governors, during which the federal and state governments agreed to ensure that the benefits of cheaper compressed natural gas (CNG) reach ordinary Nigerians through lower transport costs.

In a statement personally signed and released on Saturday, September 19, the President said an implementation committee had been established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to drive the programme.

The committee is chaired by Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

From October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs,” Tinubu said, recalling the agreement reached with the governors.

The President said the expected fare reductions were not merely projections, arguing that commuters in several states were already benefiting from CNG-powered and alternative-energy transport services.

According to Tinubu, public transportation fares in Borno State have dropped significantly on routes served by CNG and electric vehicles.

He said CNG and electric public transport services in the state charge between ₦50 and ₦100 on some routes where conventional commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.

In Kaduna State, Tinubu said 100 CNG-powered buses are providing free transportation on major routes.

He added that the buses transported about 3.2 million passengers during their first year of operation and generated savings of more than ₦3.5 billion for commuters.

The President also cited the impact of CNG buses operated by Pacesetter Transport in Oyo State, saying the Lagos-Ibadan fare had fallen from approximately ₦8,000 to ₦3,200.

In Adamawa State, he said alternative-energy transport services had reduced fares by as much

Tinubu further highlighted developments in Enugu State, where 100 CNG buses have reportedly reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.

In Plateau State, he said government-supported buses transport about 13,000 commuters daily at a fare of ₦200, compared with commercial fares of more than ₦500.

The President also pointed to the Federal Capital Territory, where CNG-converted commercial vehicles operated in partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are offering reduced fares on several routes.

He said fares on the Area 1-Gwagwalada route had dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900, while the Nyanya route fell from ₦700 to ₦420.

On the Wuse route, he said fares had dropped from ₦400 to ₦240.

In Niger State, Tinubu said passengers travelling on the Suleja-Abuja route now pay ₦550 instead of about ₦800.

He added that 40 electric buses had been deployed in Abia State, with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

The President acknowledged the renewed pressure on petrol and diesel prices arising from disruptions in global energy markets.

However, he said Nigeria’s response should focus on expanding domestic alternatives, particularly natural gas, rather than returning to the petrol subsidy regime.

Tinubu argued that Nigeria could not control international oil prices but could reduce its vulnerability to global energy shocks by increasing the use of domestically available gas.

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.

We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home.

Tinubu said his administration had spent the past three years developing the infrastructure required to expand CNG-powered transportation across the country.

According to the President, more than 120,000 vehicles have so far been converted to CNG, while more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations are operating nationwide.

He said the numbers were continuing to increase as the government expands access to the alternative fuel.

Tinubu commended states that have moved ahead with CNG transportation initiatives but said more needed to be done before the October 1 target.

He specifically mentioned Edo State, where 50 CNG buses are operating, and Kano State, where more than 1,000 commercial vehicles have reportedly been converted.

He also cited expanding CNG-supported transport services in Delta, Kwara and Lagos states, as well as Akwa Ibom State, which has received 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.

The President urged all state governments to maintain momentum ahead of October 1 and work closely with transport unions and commercial operators.

He also called for greater support for vehicle conversion, fleet deployment and the infrastructure needed to sustain CNG transportation.

Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares, Tinubu told the states.

Tinubu pledged continued federal government support for the expansion of CNG infrastructure, conversion capacity and access to alternative-energy transportation.

He said the government would continue creating an environment that allows states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate in the expansion of the CNG economy.

Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings, the President said.

“Now we must move faster and scale this so that more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.