Tinubu’s cheaper fare promise

Less than one week to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise of cheaper transport costs across Nigeria by October 1, there are strong indications that many states may not meet the deadline.

Checks by our correspondents revealed that while some states are putting some structures in place to actualise the goal, nothing is happening in several other states.

President Tinubu had said in late August that governors had agreed to take a series of measures to reduce the cost of transportation across the country through the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles in the public transport system.

Findings by Weekend Trust show that many states have just one CNG station, some have two or three, while others have none amid a dearth of CNG conversion facilities in most states.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had promised to restore the fuel subsidy.

Since Atiku made the declaration, the subsidy policy had become a major campaign issue going into the elections, with other presidential candidates also weighing in on what they intend to do differently in bringing down the high cost of fuel, which analysts blame for the prevailing hardship in the country.

Days after Atiku’s remarks on fuel subsidy reversal, President Tinubu on August 27 met with state governors. After the meeting, the president, in a post on his X account, said, “The governors have, on their own initiative, resolved to take immediate measures to bring down the cost of transportation in their states, with a strong focus on leveraging the cost benefits of CNG and electric vehicles.”

The federal government had pushed for CNG and electric vehicles as safeguards to manage the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, which hiked the price of the Premium Motor spirit popularly known as petrol from about N200 to about N600 per litre after Tinubu’s inauguration. The price has since risen dramatically, currently nearing N1,500/L.

According to the president, over 120,000 vehicles have been converted nationwide through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG), with more than 100,000 additional conversion kits in the works.

President Tinubu also said he had directed the rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the initiative, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country.

Speaking about the meeting with the governors, he explained that they agreed to set up a joint federal and state committee to begin implementing immediate measures to cut transport costs considerably.

“A vehicle running on CNG spends 60 to 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol. From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares! Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian,” Tinubu had said.

Our correspondents report that while some states are putting some measures in place, there is nothing to show that other state governments are committed to meeting the target.

Nigeria has an estimated 11 million to 14 million vehicles traversing its roads based on recent figures from the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and official reports.

Also, official baseline data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and CEIC records put historically tracked registered motor vehicles at approximately 11.6 million to 11.8 million units.

Commercial vehicles historically make up the larger share of active transport (around 58%–60% in crash and operational data), with private vehicles comprising roughly 38%–40%, and government/diplomatic vehicles making up the remainder.

Experts believe that for the CNG project to work and record noticeable and realistic success, governments at all levels must directly invest in the provision of CNG filling station centres and conversion infrastructure.

They also said special attention must be given to the conversation of trucks and articulated vehicles that transport foodstuffs, livestock, building materials and other basic products.

Baffah Saleh Yusuf, a transport engineer, said, “There are so many things to be done before the transition to CNG or even electric option will succeed. We have millions of vehicles now that run on petrol and diesel, thereby aggravating high transportation cost and inflation. I wish the October 1 deadline will be a reality; but then, what we have on the ground is far from that,” he said.

No CNG facility in Taraba, Benue, Plateau

Checks by Weekend Trust revealed that there is no functional CNG refuelling station or conversion centre in Taraba, Benue and Plateau states as the deadline draws near.

Taraba State Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Yakubu Sumuila, confirmed the development, saying the state has not kick-started any process concerning the CNG and electric vehicles programme.

He explained that there was a time the World Bank invited governors for a meeting in Abuja where the issue of CNG vehicles was discussed.

He said there was concern over the non-existence of gas pipelines and lack of gas supply for CNG vehicles in Taraba and some states.

“There is no gas pipeline in Taraba and there is also no gas station in Taraba, so how and where are we going to get the gas to power the CNG vehicles?”

The Benue State Government said it is putting infrastructure in place for a proposed CNG centre in Makurdi. However, there is a solar-powered vehicle station operated by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) in Makurdi.

The BIPC had last year unveiled its first batch of electric and solar-powered vehicles as part of preparations to launch a modern, eco-friendly taxi service across major towns of Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo in the state.

The state government said it is working on several measures, including CNG vehicle conversion, public awareness and the establishment of facilities, to ensure that Benue implements the federal government’s initiative aimed at reducing transportation costs.

The Technical Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Natural Gas and Renewable Energy, Jonathan Ashir, said the state was already working towards making CNG available, adding that a three-day awareness workshop had been scheduled in Makurdi.

Ashir said discussions were ongoing with Greenville Energy Solutions to establish a CNG facility in Makurdi.

“Already 5,000 CNG kits have been secured for the state. We should be rolling out the first 100 vehicles for the pilot phase by October 1,” he said.

He said the state is also exploring another option involving a facility in Lagos, which, according to him, could enable the supply of gas to Benue if procurement issues are concluded.

“Gas will come by October 1. We will start selling gas,” he said.

Ahead of October 1, no CNG conversion centre or filling station is operating in Plateau State.

However, Ibrahim Muhammad, a resident of Jos, told Weekend Trust that he was among those contacted to search for the site for the CNG station during a visit by a federal government team in 2024.

“After we were contacted, we showed them two places: one is located at the Naraguta community in Jos North LGA and the second one is located along Laminga Road, also in Jos North LGA,” Muhammad said, adding that the team is yet to return.

CNG stations overwhelmed in Lagos, Abuja

In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently launched the Oshodi Integrated Energy Hub of the IBILE Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC).

The facility has petrol, diesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point, and CNG conversion services within a single facility.

Sanwo-olu said that the facility represents a practical response to Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape and the need to provide affordable transportation.

“Lagos fully aligns with this vision because we understand that affordable mobility is critical for economic growth. When transportation becomes more efficient and affordable, businesses become more competitive, commercial activities expand, and residents have a better opportunity to improve the quality of their livelihood,” he said.

At Ojota in May, President Tinubu commissioned the IOGC CNG Refuelling Station, the flagship of Lagos State’s most ambitious clean transport rollout. The station anchors a network of 15 IOGC-MDGIF refuelling stations sited at Ogudu, Ikota, Agege, Ojota, Oko-Oba, Ajah, Idimu, Ogolonto, Abule Egba, Badagry, Ayobo and four additional locations across the metropolis.

The network, according to the government, is designed to provide an affordable alternative to petroleum motor spirit for millions of Lagosians, lower transport costs for commercial fleets and private vehicle owners, and significantly reduce vehicular emissions in the country’s largest urban centre. Aside from IOGC, Lagos has about seven CNG stations located across the state.

In 2024, the federal government announced free CNG conversion services for vehicles at six locations across Lagos State as part of the PCNGi. The conversion costs in the state now range between N250,000 and N1.5million, depending on the vehicle type, engine capacity (number of cylinders) and the size of the gas cylinder tank.

However, the number of CNG refilling stations in the state remains limited despite the growing adoption of CNG vehicles.

Motorists expressed frustration over the long queues, attributing the delays to the shortage of stations relative to the increasing number of converted vehicles.

A driver, Wasiu Oyedele, said the long queues waste valuable time and pointed out that the government needs to address the shortage of refilling stations.

“More people are converting to CNG than the number of places available for refills. The government needs to build more stations that sell CNG,” he said.

Similarly, Michael Jackson, a tricycle operator, acknowledged the long queues caused by the limited number of refilling points and urged the government to expand access.

“Here in Ogba, there is only one refilling station,” he added.

The availability of CNG in Abuja has not been consistent. This is coupled with the number of CNG-converted vehicles outstripping stations that sell the product, leading to long queues.

A commercial driver, Kehinde Gboyega, said he removed the cylinder he earlier installed in his car due to the scarcity, lamenting that he spent more time at the fuelling station than ferrying passengers.

He said he couldn’t continue to bear the suffering when PMS is easily available.

“The CNG was becoming a burden for me. It was taking my time. You have to queue for hours just to get the product and when you are unlucky, they will tell you there is low pressure when it finally gets to your turn. I was getting tired; that was why I removed and sold it.”

He said the CNG was one of the laudable policies of the Tinubu administration, but the fewer stations made it frustrating to impact transport fare as the government had intended.

“It is true that the gas is cheaper but how many trips can I do in a day when I will suffer to refuel? The person using petrol will do more trips than I do because he can go to a station anytime his fuel is down,” he stated.

Another motorist who simply identified himself as Emmanuel said though the benefits of CNG were undeniable, the scarcity had become unbearable.

“With N5,000 worth of CNG, I can work almost the whole day. You can’t compare that with petrol. It has reduced my running costs significantly. But scarcity is an issue. I had once spent three days in the queue,” he said.

1 station serving vehicles in Gombe, Adamawa, others

Weekend Trust gathered that the only CNG station in Gombe is located about 10 kilometres from the city centre, making it difficult for many interested motorists to access the service.

As a result, commercial drivers and commuters in the state said they have seen little or no relief, with transport costs still high across Gombe metropolis and environs.

Some commercial drivers interviewed by our correspondent said they would like to switch to CNG because of its lower cost, but the lack of refuelling infrastructure and conversion centres has made it difficult.

“We hear CNG is half the price of petrol, but the nearest station is located over 10 kilometres away from the metropolis. By the time you go and come back, one would have spent what he wanted to save,” said Abdullahi Suleiman, a taxi driver in Gombe.

Also, transport unions in the state expressed willingness to convert their vehicles to CNG, but lamented that there was no refuelling point.

A petroleum marketer in the state said his colleagues are awaiting incentives and government support to embrace the CNG initiative.

“Setting up a CNG station will cost millions of naira and without assured patronage and support from the government, people are reluctant,” he said.

Ismaila Uba Misilli, the spokesperson to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the state government is already engaging the federal government and private investors to address the infrastructure gap.

The discussions, he said, were at an advanced stage to site CNG stations and conversion centres in the state as part of efforts to key into the Pi-CNG and ease the burden of high transportation costs on residents.

He noted that the state government recognises CNG as a critical solution to reducing transport fares, especially at a time when petrol prices continue to soar.

In Adamawa State, only one conversion centre and filling station are operational.

Humwashi Wonosikou, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ahmadu Finitri, in a phone interview with our correspondent, said CNG and electric vehicles had been operating in the state under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport.

Wonosikou said there is an assembly plant for electric tricycles popularly known as “Keke Napep” situated along Girei Road off the Modibbo Adama University, Yola, where the electric tricycles are being put together for private and commercial purposes.

He added that there is one designated charging point close to Jimeta Ultra Modern Market where the electric tricycles are recharged, noting that the people of the state have been enjoying the transportation system.

The state’s CNG conversion centre is located at the main entrance gate of Yola, where vehicle owners go to convert their vehicles from petrol-powered to CNG-enabled.

Adamu Inuwa, a commercial vehicle owner, applauded the intervention, saying it has brought some relief. He called on the government to provide more CNG facilities and charging points for electric vehicles.

Weekend Trust’s findings revealed that the Greenville LNG–CNG project, commissioned in February, is the only CNG station in Katsina State, while only a few vehicles have been converted to run on the alternative fuel.

However, the Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Power and Energy, Hafiz Ibrahim Ahmed, said the state was already implementing clean-transport initiatives ahead of the October 1 deadline.

He said the initiatives were aimed at reducing transportation costs through alternative energy sources, in line with President Tinubu’s directive on cheaper transportation.

According to him, the state’s strategy combines CNG, electric tricycles and hybrid CNG/electric buses.

He said the initiatives predated the president’s recent announcement and were designed to reduce dependence on petrol, lower transport operating costs, create jobs and build local technical capacity.

Ahmed said the state was implementing a programme to deploy 500 solar-powered electric tricycles, with the first batch of 200 currently being assembled in the state.

He said trained youths were being engaged in the assembly, maintenance and technical aspects of the vehicles.

“The state is therefore not starting from scratch, as it has already established a broader clean-mobility strategy involving CNG, electric tricycles and hybrid buses.

“With the focus shifting to reducing fares, the state will also work with relevant federal agencies, transport unions and operators to accelerate the deployment of the electric tricycles, establish an effective charging and operating framework, facilitate the conversion of suitable commercial vehicles to CNG and ensure adequate CNG availability,” he said.

The federal government last week commissioned a CNG station and distributed six CNG-powered ambulances to selected healthcare institutions in Bauchi State.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, while commissioning the project at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, said it is part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to emergency medical services.

Jigawa State also has one operational CNG station in Dutse which recently commenced operations. The facility is the first CNG station in the state.

In Ekiti, there is only one functional CNG station along the Federal Polytechnic road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

High cost of conversion in Borno

Three weeks after the establishment of the CNG conversion centre in Maiduguri, the facility has converted 37 vehicles as residents grapple with high conversion costs.

According to Yahaya Goni Shettima, the engineer in charge of mechatronics at the CNG plant in Maiduguri, 50 people have been trained in conversion skills.

Shettima explained that commercialisation has been stalled due to limited access to CNG conversion kits, with only a company currently supplying the necessary materials.

“We took stock of the product, but we are faced with another challenge: the cost of transportation and delays in bringing the stock,” Shettima said.

He noted that once a steady supply of kits is secured, the plant has the capacity to convert up to 20 vehicles a day.

Shettima explained that the minimum cost to convert a vehicle for CNG is N650,000, an investment he said would ultimately grant motorists a discounted rate of about 80 to 85 percent on fuel expenditures.

Meanwhile, several car owners expressed frustration over the conversion cost, with some demanding restoration of the petrol subsidy.

“We all prefer the government to simply restore the fuel subsidy rather than grapple with the conversion. The price tag is far beyond the reach of the average citizen. So this high conversion cost will leave many residents disillusioned,” a motorist, Malam Mohammed Abubakar, said.

Another motorist, Samaila Mamza, lamented that the current conversion facility is grossly inadequate to meet the demands of Maiduguri’s driving population.

Mamza noted that the state relies on just one conversion plant and a single gas refill station located in Auno—some 93 kilometres away from Maiduguri Metropolis.

“How do you expect this to work?” Mamza queried. “Clearly, they are not sincere; they want to use the CNG to score a political goal. After the election, it will only be a bogus project.”

The low uptake of CNG vehicles in Borno notwithstanding, the state boasts of a number of electric vehicles. In December 2025, President Tinubu commissioned a fleet of 3,620 e-vehicles, comprising 3,000 bicycles, 500 tricycles, 100 cars and twenty units of 42-seater buses.

Also, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) had graduated 50 locally-trained youth and technicians in that field.

Instead of CNG, the state Governor, Babagana Zulum, is said to be concentrating on electric vehicles, which many said were already easing transport costs in Maiduguri metropolis, Jere and environs.

In August, as part of the regional transport intervention, Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, paid an inspection visit to the state.

The visit was to a newly established North East Development Commission (NEDC) charging station and a mini assembly plant for e-vehicles in Maiduguri.

The minister announced plans to distribute 10,000 electric vehicles across the six northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe.

3 filling stations operational in Rivers, Kogi

In Rivers State, three CNG stations are functional and are all located in Port Harcourt. The facilities are Greenville CNG station at Rumuji; Nellyval on Eleme Road, Akpajo and another CNG station at Rumukwokuta.

However, our correspondent gathered that other gas stations are upgrading their facilities to commence the CNG conversion and refuelling for motorists.

However, inadequate conversion centres and the high cost have also been a challenge, with some transport operators lamenting low patronage from commercial and private drivers.

Transport operators decried the inadequate conversion centres and high cost of conversion in the state.

A manager at a CNG centre in Akpajo, Prince Amaze, said that high conversion costs remain a major impediment, explaining that proper implementation will encourage wider adoption of CNG as a cheaper alternative fuel.

A commercial driver at around Mile 1, in Port Harcourt, Chimeze Okoro, said he wanted to convert his car to CNG-powered, but he could not endure the stress of queuing for gas.

Two years after the federal government launched the Pi-CNG in Kogi State with 10 pilot CNG buses, there are questions over their whereabouts.

At the launch, the government said it had approved CNG conversion centres in Lokoja, Kabba and Idah for commercial drivers and tricycles.

The main CNG centre in Kogi is located at Phase 3, Felele-Lokoja, adjacent to the NNPC Mega Filling Station in Lokoja.

The station manager, Oluwaseun, said the conversion centre under the NNPC supervision resumed operation shortly after the launch.

Oluwaseun claimed the centre had converted about 400 four-plug injector vehicles at N550,000 per conversion.

Motorists at the Lokoja Mega Park said none of the 10 CNG buses are currently operating from the park.

“The CNG buses were launched in this park, but none of them is operating from here. After the launch, we saw them parked at a location around NNPC Mega Station at Felele-Lokoja. We can’t say the buses were withdrawn or not working after the flag-off,” a motorist said.

Efforts to speak to the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, on plans to fulfill the October 1 promise were not successful at the time of filing this report.

Ondo, Zamfara with single refuelling point

Weekend Trust’s findings showed that Ondo State currently has only one functional CNG facility located in Ore, according to the state government.

The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Transportation, Olumuyiwa Ogunyemi, told our correspondent that the state government had commenced engagements with stakeholders and private investors as part of preparations for the rollout of the CNG initiative.

He disclosed that the government had held meetings with Matrix Oil & Gas, one of the major players in the CNG sector, to explore the possibility of establishing CNG facilities in existing fuel stations across the state.

“They are coming to Ondo State because they already have some outlets in the state. It will be easier for them to include CNG centres in these stations that are already in existence.

“However, we have a company in Ore, owned by Ondo State, that is already operating CNG. That is one already,” he said.

The commissioner added that the state government had been participating in discussions coordinated by the federal government and the Nigerian Governors Forum on the implementation of the Pi-CNG.

According to him, transportation commissioners and officials from across the country have been invited to harmonise implementation strategies.

“It is a presidential initiative and the meeting will help us understand how best to implement the programme,” he said.

On the availability of CNG buses in Ondo State, Ogunyemi explained that existing CNG buses in the state are privately owned, while discussions are ongoing regarding government participation.

The only functional CNG facility in Zamfara State is located in the Tsauni area of Gusau, the state capital, while another facility at Lala, also in Gusau, is still under construction.

In June this year, the federal government commissioned the Gusau Automotive Training Centre, where technicians are being trained to service petrol- and CNG-powered vehicles, including CNG conversion technology.

The centre is expected to contribute to the development of the manpower required to support the transition from conventional petrol-powered vehicles to CNG and other clean-energy transportation systems.

Recently, the Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG, Ismael Ahmed, was in Zamfara to seek the partnership of Governor Dauda Lawal in establishing a Green Mobility Hub in the state.

Ahmed said the proposed hub would help provide affordable and sustainable transportation while reducing dependence on petrol-powered vehicles.

He said the federal government was ready to provide financing, infrastructure and technical support for the project.

According to him, the proposed hub would include CNG facilities, EV charging stations and vehicle-conversion centres.

The chairman urged the state government to provide land for the proposed hub and develop CNG infrastructure along the major transport corridors.

Responding, Governor Lawal said the state government had already begun test-running CNG-powered buses for students.

Edo has six CNG stations

It was gathered that there are six functional CNG filling stations in Benin City, located at Aduwawa, Agbor Road, Second East Circular Road, Sapele Road and Oluku Road.

There are also five CNG vehicle conversion centres in the state, with three of them belonging to NIPCO.

Edo State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Uwuilekhue Saturday, said the state was ahead of the federal government, having commenced the procurement of 100 CNG-powered buses before the federal government’s announcement.

He said, “Out of the 100 buses, the state has already taken delivery of 50 vehicles and is expecting the remaining 50. The vehicles will hit the roads before the end of October.”

Apart from the CNG-powered vehicles, the commissioner said the state is on the verge of introducing electric vehicles under two models: drive-and-earn and drive-and-own.

‘Tinubu’s promise seen as political statement’

A development activist, Ahmed Tahir Funtua, said the high cost of vehicle conversion has discouraged many car owners from embracing the initiative, adding that only a few vehicles had been converted across states.

“In Katsina, the cost of conversion alone has made many vehicle owners abandon the idea of using CNG. Some months ago, someone told me the conversion cost was N450,000, while another person said it had increased to over N500,000,” he said.

He added that the presidential directive may not be fully implemented before the October 1 deadline, saying many people viewed it as a political statement because of the approaching elections.

He described the promise as “unrealistic, given the current level of infrastructure and the cost of converting vehicles to CNG.”

Also a public affairs analyst and Associate Professor of Communication at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Dr Raphael Abimbola, said several critical questions remain unanswered.

“The big question is: what is the preparation of the government to actualise this, and what will be the reception and attitude of transporters towards buying into it? The success of the initiative would depend largely on how state governments engage transport operators and investors.

“Is it the government that will set up the centres directly and fund them? Will it partner private investors? Or will it encourage private investors to establish and operate the centres? These are questions the government needs to answer,” he said.

According to him, creating CNG stations alone would not guarantee success if transport operators are unwilling or unable to convert their vehicles from petrol and diesel to gas-powered engines.

“Government cannot simply create centres. If a centre is established and nobody is ready to patronise it, it will fail,” he said.

The communication scholar urged governments to work closely with transport unions such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), private transport operators and fleet owners.

“The first step governments should take is to engage transport unions and private operators and encourage them to convert their vehicles from petrol and diesel to CNG. Government may even have to subsidise the conversion process,” he added.

He advised that CNG stations should be established across major cities and strategic local government areas to make the programme viable.

“If government truly wants to demonstrate readiness for CNG transportation, CNG centres should be available in at least eight local government areas in Ondo State, for instance,” he said.

The Director of Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Comrade Steve Aluko, said Nigerians are tired of promises without implementation.

According to him, the promise to reduce the transportation cost is possible if there are proper arrangements, explaining that both federal and state governments have not shown the desire to make the promise realistic.

“Why make the promise now? Government would always make pledges without fulfilling them. It is not about making the promises but the implementation. How many vehicles is the government supplying to ease the difficulties?

“Nigeria is a huge country and you cannot just focus on one sector and think the hardship will be reduced. Nigerians want cheaper energy. Look at the economy holistically, not just one aspect and believe that it would be okay,” Aluko said.

Nigerians already enjoying cheaper fares – Presidency

Efforts to get the reaction of the Presidency on promised cheaper transport costs following findings that most states barely have CNG or electric vehicle infrastructure as of now were not successful.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, could not be reached on the phone. Also, text and WhatsApp messages sent to him were yet to be replied to as at the time of filing this report.

But in a statement last Sunday titled, “President Tinubu Gives An Update On The National Affordable CNG Transit Programme,” the Presidency said considerable work was already underway to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions, and put the necessary arrangements in place.

“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 N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600.

“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 N3.5 billion in transport costs.

“In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport brought the Lagos–Ibadan fare down from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment. In Adamawa, alternative-energy transit services have cut fares by as much as 50 per cent, from N8,000 to N4,000. In Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu–Nsukka fare has been reduced from N2,500 to N1,500. In Plateau, government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters every day at N200, compared with more than N500 commercially,” the statement read.

It said that through partnership with the NURTW, passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja commuter routes enjoyed a 40 per cent fare reduction, noting that Area 1 to Gwagwalada, for example, has fallen from N1,500 to N900; Nyanya from N700 to N420; and Wuse from N400 to N240.

“In Niger, passengers on the Suleja–Abuja service are paying N550 compared with about N800, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent. These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings. I commend the governors and state governments that have moved quickly. However, I believe more still needs to be done. The Federal Government will support you to scale further,” the statement added.

Baba Martins, Faruk Shuaibu (Abuja), Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos), Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Maiduguri), Haruna Gimba Yaya (Gombe), Tijani Labaran (Lokoja), Magaji lsa Hunkuyi (Jalingo), Umar Dankano (Yola), Hassan Ibrahim, (Bauchi) Ibrahim Musa Giginyu (Katsina), Bassey Willie (Port Harcourt), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti), Promise Adagba (Akure), Abdullahi Abdulrahaman Chakwa (Gusau), Ado Abubakar Musa (Jos), Usman A. Bello (Benin) & Ali Rabiu Ali (Dutse)