Tinubu urges CNG rollout as petrol prices surge

President Bola Tinubu says the federal government and state governments are working to reduce transportation costs through the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, with the target of delivering measurable fare reductions from 1 October.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr Tinubu said an implementation committee had been established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum following his 27 August meeting with the 36 state governors.

He cited existing CNG and electric transport initiatives across several states as evidence that cheaper energy can translate into lower fares.

In Borno, the Nigerian leader said CNG and electric buses charge between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial fares are N300–N600, while Kaduna’s 100 CNG buses carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saved commuters more than N3.5 billion.

Other examples he gave include the reduction of Lagos–Ibadan fares from about N8,000 to N3,200 in Oyo, a 50 per cent fare reduction in Adamawa, and lower fares on routes in Enugu, Plateau, Niger, Abuja and Abia.

The President said Nigeria’s exposure to global energy price shocks makes the transition to alternative fuels necessary.

“Nigeria cannot control events in global energy markets. But as a gas-rich nation, we can reduce our exposure,” the statement said.

He said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG, supported by over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 refuelling stations.

Mr Tinubu urged states to accelerate CNG deployment and ensure that lower energy costs translate into cheaper fares for commuters.

Read the full statement below:

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.

ALSO READ: Tinubu orders 500 more CNG stations, targets lower transport fares nationwide

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 that more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day. ‎