President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has highlighted reported reductions in transport costs linked to compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and electric vehicles, citing accounts from commuters and commercial drivers as his administration expands efforts to make public transportation more affordable following petrol subsidy removal.
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Key Highlights
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- A commuter travelling from Masaka to Berger reportedly pays ₦500 instead of ₦1,500.
- Two passengers travelling between Enugu and Nsukka reportedly pay ₦1,600 instead of ₦4,000.
- The Federal Government says more CNG buses and electric vehicles are being deployed across states.
- More than 120,000 vehicles have reportedly been converted to run on CNG at certified conversion centres.
- Access to lower fares remains uneven, with some commuters still waiting for new buses and supporting infrastructure.
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In a series of posts on X on October 11, 2026, Tinubu shared examples of passengers and drivers who said they were spending less on selected routes, while acknowledging the need to expand services to reach more Nigerians.
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Tinubu Shares Accounts of Lower Transport Costs
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Tinubu highlighted accounts from Nigerians who said CNG-powered buses and electric transport services had reduced their daily travel expenses. According to the President, a commuter identified as Blessing now spends ₦500 on a journey from Masaka to Berger in the Federal Capital Territory, compared with the previous fare of ₦1,500. If the two fares apply to the same journey, the reported reduction amounts to ₦1,000 per trip.
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Two other commuters, Ada and Abigail, reportedly said they now pay ₦1,600 for travel between Enugu and Nsukka instead of ₦4,000, representing a reported saving of ₦2,400 per journey.
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Tinubu also cited a taxi driver identified as Kabir, who said spending ₦10,000 on CNG allowed him to complete three additional return trips compared with colleagues using petrol.
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“Lower operating costs for drivers should translate into more affordable fares for passengers, leaving families with more money for their everyday needs,” Tinubu wrote. The examples are individual accounts shared by the President and do not, by themselves, establish that fares have fallen across the country.
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CNG Programme Follows Petrol Subsidy Removal
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The government’s push for CNG-powered transport follows the removal of the petrol subsidy announced by Tinubu in May 2023. The policy was followed by sharp increases in petrol prices and transport fares, adding to pressure on household budgets and the cost of moving goods and people.
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In response, the Federal Government introduced initiatives to encourage the use of Nigeria’s natural gas resources in the transport sector. These include the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, known as PiCNG & EV, and the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme.
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The programmes are intended to reduce transport operators’ dependence on petrol and make it possible for lower operating expenses to translate into more affordable fares. However, the extent of the savings depends on factors such as fuel availability, conversion costs, vehicle maintenance, route coverage and the number of CNG-powered buses operating in each location.
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Tinubu, Governors Target Transport Relief
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According to a State House update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, Tinubu met with Nigeria’s 36 state governors on August 27, 2026, to discuss measures aimed at reducing transportation costs.
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The initiative set a target of delivering measurable fare reductions from October 1, 2026, through cooperation between federal and state governments, transport unions and private investors. An implementation committee under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has been coordinating aspects of the programme.
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The government’s approach includes deploying buses, supporting vehicle conversions and expanding refuelling facilities. The planned rollout is intended to increase the number of routes where commuters can access lower-cost transport services.
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States Receive CNG Buses and Electric Vehicles
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Tinubu also listed vehicle deployments across several states as evidence of progress under the programme. The deliveries and preparations he cited include:
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- Ekiti State: 15 buses.
- Lagos State: 20 buses.
- Akwa Ibom State: 50 buses reportedly ready for service.
- Katsina State: 30 CNG-hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles.
- Kano State: 30 CNG buses and five electric buses.
- Kaduna State: 100 CNG buses, which the government says have transported millions of passengers.
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Additional deployments are planned for other states, including Edo, according to the figures cited in reports on the President’s announcement. The government has also reported that more than 400 certified conversion centres have converted over 120,000 vehicles to operate on CNG, while operational refuelling stations have reportedly increased from fewer than 10 in 2023 to more than 90.
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Government Reports Savings on Selected Routes
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Previous government updates have highlighted fare reductions and passenger savings on selected routes. In Kaduna, official reports have cited millions of passenger journeys on CNG bus services and estimated savings running into billions of naira. Other initiatives have included reduced fares on selected routes in Oyo State, fare reductions on some Abuja routes and low-cost transport services in parts of Borno State.
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The reported savings vary by route and programme. They should not be interpreted as a nationwide reduction in transport fares, as the availability of subsidised or alternative-fuel services differs from one state to another. The government has also announced other measures intended to ease transport costs, including tax and duty relief associated with fuel supply and interventions targeting public transport operators.
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- Tinubu’s CNG Plan: Raimi Defends Fuel Hardship Measures, Says Relief Goes Beyond 2027 Elections
- Eradiri Challenges Governors to Implement Tinubu’s Cheaper Transport Directive
- Gwagwalada CNG Projects Await AKK Gas Pipeline as July 2026 Deadline Is Missed
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CNG Transport Benefits Remain Uneven
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Despite the reported successes, access to affordable CNG and electric transport remains uneven. Reports from some locations after the October 1 target indicated that many commuters had not experienced noticeable fare reductions. In some areas, new buses had yet to arrive, while limited refuelling infrastructure continued to constrain the expansion of CNG services.
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Programme officials have described the October 1 date as the beginning of a monitoring and implementation phase rather than a deadline by which every route would immediately record lower fares. The gap between government announcements and commuters’ experiences highlights the practical challenges of expanding a nationwide alternative-fuel transport system.
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For savings to reach more passengers, operators need access to suitable vehicles, reliable fuel supplies, functioning refuelling stations and routes that serve areas with substantial transport demand.
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Tinubu Promises Further Expansion of Affordable Transport
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In his October 11 posts, Tinubu also responded to a request from a commuter identified as Emmanuel for more buses. The President said the Federal Government was working with state governments and private investors to expand coverage under the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that immediate relief measures remain financially sustainable over time.
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The expansion of CNG and electric transport could reduce running costs for participating operators, but the broader impact will depend on how quickly services become available to more commuters and whether the savings are reflected consistently in fares.
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What CNG Expansion Means for Nigerian Commuters
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The government’s alternative-fuel transport programme is part of its response to the cost-of-living pressures that followed petrol subsidy removal. The accounts shared by Tinubu suggest that some passengers are benefiting from lower fares on specific routes. However, individual testimonials and official deployment figures do not establish how many Nigerians currently have access to these savings.
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The next stage will depend on continued vehicle deployment, expansion of refuelling infrastructure and the availability of affordable services beyond the routes already covered. For commuters, the central question is whether the reported savings can become a consistent feature of everyday travel rather than remaining limited to selected routes and early programme beneficiaries.
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