Just in… Rising Fuel Prices: Tinubu Pushes Hard for Cheaper Transport, Targets Nationwide Fare Slash in 10 Days

Just in…
Rising Fuel Prices: Tinubu Pushes Hard for Cheaper Transport, Targets Nationwide Fare Slash in 10 Days

•Orders accelerated CNG, electric vehicle rollout, rules out return to “ruinous petrol subsidy”

By Emmanuel Olugua

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a fresh push to drive down transportation costs across Nigeria as rising global energy prices put renewed pressure on petrol and diesel prices, directing state governments to accelerate the deployment of cheaper Compressed Natural Gas and electric-powered public transportation.

The President wants Nigerians to begin seeing measurable reductions in transport fares from October 1, insisting that savings from cheaper alternative fuels must be passed directly to commuters rather than retained by transport operators.

In a statement personally signed on Saturday, Tinubu said the Federal Government would work with the 36 states, transport unions, commercial operators, and private investors to rapidly expand CNG conversion, buses, and refuelling infrastructure.

The President said the urgency had increased because of disruptions to global energy supplies, which are putting upward pressure on petrol, diesel, and transportation costs.

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

He disclosed that following his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors, an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The target, he said, is clear: Nigerians should begin to experience measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.

Tinubu cited several states where CNG and electric public transportation are already producing substantial fare reductions.

In Borno, he said, commuters using CNG and electric buses pay between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial fares range from ₦300 to ₦600.

Kaduna’s 100 CNG buses, according to the President, have provided free transportation to about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, generating estimated commuter savings of more than ₦3.5 billion.

In Oyo, he said, CNG buses initially reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200, while alternative-energy transport in Adamawa cut some fares from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.

Enugu’s 100 CNG buses have brought the Enugu-Nsukka fare down from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500, while government-supported buses in Plateau transport about 13,000 commuters daily for ₦200 on journeys costing more than ₦500 commercially.

Tinubu also pointed to the Federal Government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, under which passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on selected Abuja routes receive a 40 per cent fare reduction.

The Area 1-Gwagwalada fare, for instance, has dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900, while fares to Nyanya have fallen from ₦700 to ₦420 and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240.

Niger State’s Suleja-Abuja service costs ₦550 against about ₦800 commercially, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” the President said.

Tinubu disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles have now been converted to CNG nationwide, supported by over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 refuelling stations.

He said Edo already has 50 CNG buses in service, Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles, while Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG-backed transportation. Akwa Ibom has also taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial deployment.

The President, however, rejected suggestions that renewed pressure from international oil prices should lead Nigeria back to petrol subsidy.

“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,” Tinubu said.

Instead, he urged governors to work aggressively with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, facilitate refuelling infrastructure and ensure that the financial benefits of cheaper CNG reach ordinary Nigerians.

“Above all, ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares,” the President told the states.

Tinubu said the Federal Government would continue expanding CNG infrastructure and conversion capacity while encouraging manufacturers, transport operators and private investors to enter the alternative-fuel transportation market.

“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings,” he said.

“Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.”