Tinubu’s Promised Transport Fare Reduction Yet to Reach Many Nigerians as October Begins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is yet to provide further clarification on the promised nationwide reduction in transportation fares, with many Nigerians still waiting to see a significant impact from the Federal Government’s CNG transport initiative.

Tinubu had, at a meeting with state governors on August 27, said Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.

The President said the reduction would be driven by the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, through the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV).

He also directed the rollout of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations across the country as part of efforts to make transportation more affordable.

However, more than five days into October, transportation costs remain high in many parts of the country, with the broader impact of the promised nationwide reduction yet to become evident.

The lack of a clear update from the Presidency has also raised questions about the timeline and scale of the expected reduction.

When DAILY POST contacted presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare on Monday for clarification, he had not responded at the time the report was filed.

The development has also attracted criticism from opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who questioned the Tinubu administration over the promised reduction in transport fares.

However, the Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the reduction had already started on some routes.

Ahmed said on September 30 that commuters using CNG-powered buses could pay significantly less than passengers using conventional commercial transport on some routes.

He cited the Gwagwalada-Abuja route, where he said commuters could pay about 40 per cent less when using CNG-powered buses.

Despite the rollout of the CNG initiative in various states, transport fares have remained elevated, according to DAILY POST.

Fuel prices in Abuja and its environs were reported at between N1,370 and N1,410 per litre, while diesel was selling for between N1,940 and N2,000 per litre, depending on location.

Although petrol prices have declined by about N20 to N25 per litre, the prevailing retail prices remain high for many commuters and transport operators.

Reacting to the situation, the Country Director of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, blamed what he described as weak public accountability among Nigerian leaders.

Rafsanjani said government officials frequently make promises without putting the necessary mechanisms in place to ensure implementation.

“Public officials will always make a promise and commitment and they will never fulfil. And that is why, unfortunately, Nigerians are not having trust in their leaders.”

He said the government should have established the necessary mechanisms before announcing the expected reduction to the public.

“There is no need to rush to make a pronouncement when you know you are not ready.”

Rafsanjani also compared the situation with the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the government had similarly failed to put adequate measures in place to cushion the immediate impact of that policy.

He said the transport fare announcement had raised expectations among Nigerians, but the limited impact so far could further undermine public confidence in government commitments.

The Federal Government’s CNG programme remains one of its major measures for reducing the cost of transportation following the removal of petrol subsidy. The extent to which the initiative will translate into widespread and sustained reductions in transport fares across the country remains a key issue as October progresses.