President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric-powered transport are helping to reduce commuting costs, with some Nigerians reporting fare reductions of up to 67 per cent.
The President said this on Sunday in a post on his verified X account, @officialABAT, while responding to commuters’ accounts of savings from government-supported transport services.
He said the initiative was part of efforts to ease the financial burden on households following the removal of the petrol subsidy and pledged to expand access to affordable transport across the country.
Tinubu cited the experience of Blessing, whose journey from Masaka to Berger in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) now costs ₦500, down from ₦1,500. The reduction represents a saving of ₦1,000 per trip, or about 67 per cent.
“Dear Blessing, I watched your video and listened as you explained how your journey from Masaka to Berger in the FCT now costs ₦500 instead of ₦1,500. That is ₦1,000 saved every trip. I know what that means when you have a family to feed, bills to pay and other responsibilities waiting at home,” he wrote.
The President also cited Ada and Abigail, who reported that fares between Enugu and Nsukka had fallen from ₦4,000 to ₦1,600, saving them ₦2,400 per journey, or 60 per cent.
Another beneficiary, Kabir, a commercial taxi driver, said spending ₦10,000 on CNG enabled him to make three additional return trips compared with drivers using petrol-powered vehicles. Tinubu said Kabir had decided not to return to petrol-powered transport because of the lower operating costs.
In Borno State, some commuters reportedly pay as little as ₦50 per trip on government-supported CNG and electric vehicles.
“Your various experiences show what our investment in CNG transportation is intended to achieve. Lower operating costs for drivers should translate into more affordable fares for passengers, leaving families with more money for their everyday needs,” Tinubu said.
Acknowledging the difficulties households had faced since the removal of the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, he said the government had a responsibility to provide affordable alternatives.
Responding to a request from another Nigerian, Emmanuel, for more buses, Tinubu said the Federal Government was working with state governments through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and private investors to expand services under the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme.
Providing an update on deployments, he said Ekiti State had received 15 CNG buses and Lagos 20, while 50 buses were ready for service in Akwa Ibom State.
Katsina had introduced 30 CNG hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles, while Kano had received 30 CNG buses and five electric buses. Tinubu said another deployment was planned for Edo State.
The update followed the launch of CNG-powered hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles in Katsina on October 4 by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu also announced measures to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices, saying the Federal Government had waived more than ₦3.3 trillion in fuel taxes and duties.
He added that NNPC Retail was foregoing its profit margin for 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators, while the government worked towards a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on wholesale petrol supply costs.
The President said the measures were intended to ease immediate financial pressure while expanding alternative transport services sustainably.
He acknowledged that more communities still needed affordable transport, adding that the government would continue working with state administrations to extend access.
“Our responsibility is to keep expanding access until affordable transportation becomes a reality for more communities across our country. That is the work we will continue in collaboration with the States,” he said.
