By Obiabin Onukwugha
President Bola Tinubu has stated that the federal government Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transit program has drastically reduced transportation cost in the states that are operational, thereby saving Nigerians millions of naira.
The president stated this while giving an update of the success of the CTP on Saturday.
Tinubu remarked that in order to ensure effective implantation, the federal government 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,” he said.
Tinubu highlighted that the work has become even more urgent amid the current global energy crisis.
Highlighting the impact of the program, Tinubu said, “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,” he stated.
The president commended the governors and state governments that have moved quickly, but noted that “More still needs to be done. The Federal Government will support you to scale further.”
He submitted that disruptions to global energy supplies are once again pressuring petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide, stressing that “Nigeria cannot control events in global energy markets. But as a gas-rich nation, we can reduce our exposure.”
Tinubu highlighted that over the last three years, his 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,” he said.
He further revealed that 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 more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” the President stated.
