By Stephen Simon
State governments across Nigeria are stepping up efforts to reduce transportation costs as the Federal Government targets October 1, 2026, for wider access to cheaper fares through Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and other alternative-energy transport services.
The initiative followed an August 27 meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors, where they agreed to pursue measurable reductions in transportation costs. An implementation committee under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was subsequently established to coordinate the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.
While some states have introduced subsidised or free buses, others are expanding CNG vehicle conversion, refuelling infrastructure and alternative-energy transport systems.
In Kano, the government said it was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government on CNG-powered mass transit, with plans to deploy buses for urban and interstate services. The state has also converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and is expanding its conversion and refuelling network.
Ogun State said it was consulting stakeholders on the CNG programme while exploring electric vehicles as part of a framework aimed at providing cleaner and more affordable transportation. Rivers State, meanwhile, is preparing to return its palliative buses to the roads from October, with some services expected to be free.
Some states have already reported significant fare reductions. In Borno, CNG and electric transport services reportedly charge between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge ₦300 to ₦600.
In Kaduna, 100 CNG buses provide free transportation on major routes. The State House said the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saved commuters more than ₦3.5 billion.
Oyo, Adamawa and Enugu have also reported reductions on major routes. On the Lagos-Ibadan route, the introduction of CNG buses reduced fares from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200, while the Enugu-Nsukka fare reportedly fell from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500 after the deployment of 100 CNG buses.
In Abuja, the Federal Government said CNG-converted commercial vehicles had reduced fares by about 40 per cent on several routes, including Area 1-Gwagwalada, where fares fell from ₦1,500 to ₦900.
However, transport operators have warned that cheaper CNG alone may not guarantee lower fares, citing conversion costs, maintenance, spare parts, vehicle financing and inadequate refuelling facilities.
The Federal Government plans to expand CNG infrastructure, including an additional 500 refuelling stations, while states continue to develop their own transport programmes.
With October 1 approaching, the challenge for governments will be to ensure that lower energy costs translate into sustained savings for commuters rather than remaining limited to government-supported pilot services.
