President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says Nigerians will begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1 under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.

The President disclosed this in a State House press statement on Friday, giving an update on the implementation of the programme. He said the target was agreed at a meeting with the 36 state governors on August 27, where they resolved to make transport more affordable for Nigerians.

Following the meeting, an implementation committee was established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

President Tinubu said he was aware of considerable work already underway by the committee, the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, PI-CNG & EV, states and other stakeholders to identify priority corridors and interventions.

According to him, the work has become even more urgent amid the current global energy crisis, which is pushing up petrol and diesel prices.

The President said evidence from across the country already shows what is possible when cheaper energy translates into cheaper transportation.

He cited Borno State, where 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, he said, 100 CNG-powered buses are providing free transportation on major routes and carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year, saving commuters more than N3.5 billion.

In Oyo State, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport brought the Lagos-Ibadan fare down from about N8,000 to N3,200 during the initial deployment, he noted.

The President added that 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, while in Plateau, government-supported buses convey about 13,000 commuters daily at N200, compared to over N500 commercially.

In the Federal Capital Territory, through partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, passengers on CNG-converted vehicles on several Abuja routes now enjoy 40 per cent fare reduction.

He explained that the Area 1 to Gwagwalada fare has fallen from N1,500 to N900; Nyanya from N700 to N420; and Wuse from N400 to N240.

In Niger State, passengers on the Suleja-Abuja service are paying N550 compared to about N800, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

The President stressed that the reductions are not projections but actual savings already being experienced by Nigerians.

He commended governors and state governments that have moved quickly but said more still needs to be done, adding that the Federal Government will support them to scale further.

President Tinubu said disruptions to global energy supplies are once again pressuring fuel prices worldwide, but Nigeria as a gas-rich nation can reduce its exposure by accelerating alternatives.

He disclosed that over the last three years, his administration has invested in building a CNG ecosystem, with over 120,000 vehicles converted, more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country.

He rejected calls for a return to petrol subsidy, describing it as a ruinous regime that consumed trillions of naira and left the economy exposed to international oil price movements.

The President said the momentum is spreading, noting that Edo already has 50 CNG buses in active service while Kano has converted over 1,000 commercial vehicles.

He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG-supported services while Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.

He urged all states to maintain momentum towards October 1 by working with transport unions, supporting conversion and facilitating required infrastructure to ensure savings reach citizen

The Federal Government, he assured, will continue to support scaling of CNG infrastructure, expand conversion capacity and create enabling environment for states, operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate.