President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a coordinated Federal and State Government push to reduce transportation fares nationwide, declaring that the savings from cheaper CNG fuel must ultimately be passed on to Nigerian commuters.
The President said the decision followed discussions with the Governors’ Forum, which he described as encouraging, noting that the governors had independently resolved to take immediate measures to reduce intra-state transportation costs.
At the heart of the plan is the accelerated adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, which the administration believes can significantly reduce the operating costs of commercial transportation.
Tinubu said the Presidential CNG Initiative has already converted more than 120,000 vehicles across Nigeria, with conversion kits for another 100,000-plus vehicles in the pipeline.
He said the Federal Government is also expanding conversion centres and CNG refuelling infrastructure nationwide.
Through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, the government is financing more than 100 gas projects, including 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.
The President said four projects were commissioned in May across Lagos, Abuja and Owerri, including a 15-station refuelling network in Lagos and an Abuja facility capable of servicing 1,000 cars and tricycles and 50 trucks and buses daily.
He further disclosed that an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations had been ordered, bringing the total planned rollout to 1,000 stations nationwide when combined with the 500 previously ordered.
Tinubu emphasised that the greatest immediate impact would be felt in intra-state transportation, where commuters bear the cost of fuel most directly.
He said a CNG-powered vehicle can spend 60–80 per cent less on fuel than a petrol-powered vehicle.
The President therefore set a clear expectation for the new initiative: cheaper fuel must mean cheaper fares.
A joint Federal-State committee, he said, will commence implementation immediately, with the goal of ensuring that Nigerians begin to enjoy lower transportation costs from October 1.
“We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”
Tinubu urged all tiers of government to work together to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s energy transition reach ordinary citizens.
“Nigeria First.”
