President Bola Tinubu has said Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, 2026, as the Federal Government and state governments intensify efforts to expand affordable CNG-powered transport.
The President made this known in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following discussions with the 36 state governors on the implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.
Tinubu said the governors agreed on the objective during a meeting on August 27, with the programme designed to translate the lower operating costs associated with compressed natural gas into cheaper transportation for Nigerians.
“From October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs.”
Following the meeting, an implementation committee was established under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the chairman of the forum.
The committee is working with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), state governments and other stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors and determine the interventions required to reduce fares.
The President said arrangements were also being made to ensure that the programme delivers measurable benefits to commuters.
“I am aware of the considerable work already underway by the committee, PI-CNG & EV, the States, and other critical stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions, and put the necessary arrangements in place.”
The initiative comes as the government continues to promote CNG and electric vehicles as alternatives to petrol-powered transportation following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The Pi-CNG & EV was expanded by Tinubu in March to include electric vehicles and was tasked with coordinating Nigeria’s clean mobility strategy. The initiative is also responsible for expanding CNG infrastructure, vehicle conversion programmes and refuelling facilities across the country.
The Federal Government has previously said lower operating costs from CNG and electric vehicles should eventually translate into lower fares for passengers. In August, the government also said efforts were underway to provide cheaper means of transport as part of measures to ease economic pressure on households.
However, implementation of the October target is expected to vary across states and transport corridors, as authorities continue to determine which routes and operators will receive support.
The development comes amid what Tinubu described as a global energy crisis, which he said had made the need to accelerate the programme more urgent.
The President said the government would continue working with state governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of the CNG programme reach commuters.
For many Nigerians, the key test will be whether the planned interventions result in actual reductions in fares on everyday transport routes from October.
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