Tinubu Sets October 1 Deadline for Wider CNG Fare Cuts

Amarachi Ihesiulo

September 21, 2026
3 min read
CNG President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has set October 1, 2026, as the target date for more Nigerians to begin benefiting from lower transport fares, directing the 36 states and transport stakeholders to accelerate the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric-powered mass transit services nationwide.

Tinubu said the Federal Government expects the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme to deliver measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, as rising petrol and diesel prices continue to put pressure on commuters and businesses.

The President gave the directive in an update on Saturday, September 19, saying more than 120,000 vehicles had already been converted to CNG, supported by over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country.

He said the October 1 target followed an August 27 meeting with the governors of the 36 states, where they agreed to pursue coordinated measures to reduce transportation costs.

An implementation committee was subsequently established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Tinubu said the committee, PI-CNG, state governments and other stakeholders were working to identify priority transport corridors, determine suitable interventions and put the necessary arrangements in place ahead of the October deadline.

The President pointed to existing transport schemes in several states as evidence that cheaper energy could translate into lower fares.

In Borno, he said CNG-powered and electric public transport services were carrying commuters for between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.

Kaduna has deployed 100 CNG buses providing free transportation on major routes. Tinubu said the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than N3.5 billion in transport costs.

In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment, while alternative-energy transport services in Adamawa reduced fares by as much as 50 per cent.

Enugu’s 100 CNG buses have also reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from N2,500 to N1,500, while government-supported buses in Plateau carry about 13,000 commuters daily at N200, compared with commercial fares above N500.

Tinubu said Abuja commuters were also benefiting from CNG-converted commercial vehicles, with fares reduced by 40 per cent on some routes through the government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

The President urged every state to maintain momentum towards October 1, work with transport unions and operators, support vehicle conversions and ensure that savings from cheaper energy are reflected in fares paid by commuters.

He said the Federal Government would continue expanding CNG infrastructure and conversion capacity while creating opportunities for states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s abundant gas resources provided an opportunity to reduce the country’s exposure to global energy price shocks.

“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,” he said.

Tinubu Sets October 1 Deadline for Wider CNG Fare Cuts

Amarachi Ihesiulo

Amarachi Ihesiulo

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