Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Plateau and Enugu states have introduced or expanded the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and government-subsidised buses as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs for residents.
The measures followed the Federal Government’s directive that Nigerians should begin to experience measurable reductions in transport fares from October 1.
However, the implementation has varied across the states, with differences in the availability of CNG buses, refuelling infrastructure, conversion facilities and the willingness of commercial transport operators to reduce fares.
President Bola Tinubu had directed the 36 state governments to accelerate the implementation of the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme after his August 27 meeting with the governors.
The President urged the states to work with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversion and deploy more buses and infrastructure to ensure that lower operating costs translate into cheaper transportation for commuters.
The Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted while over 90 CNG refuelling stations had been established across the country.
The initiative also said fare reductions had already started on some routes, stressing that October 1 marked the beginning of federal monitoring of the programme rather than a requirement for every state to reduce fares at the same time.
In Plateau State, the government is relying on its Tin City Metro Bus scheme to provide cheaper transportation while preparations continue for CNG adoption.
The Commissioner for Transport, Davou Gyang Jatau, said passengers travelling between Anguldi and Farin Gada, a distance of about 23 kilometres, pay N200, while a return trip costs N400.
The state has also entered into an agreement with the National Institute for Transport Technology, Zaria, to establish a vehicle conversion centre in Jos. However, inadequate CNG refuelling infrastructure remains a major challenge.
In Kwara State, the Commissioner for Transport, Aliyu Sabi, said the Federal Government had supplied 20 CNG buses to help cushion the impact of high fuel prices.
According to him, the buses had started operating from various motor parks on routes including Ilorin-Abuja, Ilorin-Lagos and Ilorin-Enugu.
He added that the state was expecting another 10 buses to transport workers, students and other residents.
Ekiti State has also commenced measures to cut transportation costs through the deployment of CNG buses.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji said the state had begun the process of reducing transport fares by 59 per cent through 15 CNG buses donated by the Federal Government.
The governor said the buses would help ease the transportation burden on residents, while the state planned to expand the fleet.
The Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said the buses would operate on routes connecting Ado Ekiti with Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja.
In Lagos, the state recently received 20 additional high-capacity CNG buses, bringing the number of CNG buses in its regulated public transport system to about 170.
The buses are expected to increase capacity on routes with identified gaps, including the Ikorodu-Tafawa Balewa Square corridor.
However, the Lagos State Government has yet to announce a new fare structure, specific commencement date or routes for the latest Federal Government-backed fare reduction programme.
In Enugu, government-owned CNG buses have reportedly reduced fares by more than 50 per cent on routes where they operate. Commercial transport operators, however, have not followed the same pattern.
Ralph Edeh, the Public Relations Officer of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria in the state, said operators could not afford to cut fares significantly while fuel, spare parts and other operating expenses remained high.
Similar challenges have been reported in other states.
In Ogun, transport operators cited high petrol prices, the cost of converting vehicles to CNG and concerns among some passengers about CNG-powered vehicles.
In Rivers, transport union officials said fare reductions would depend largely on a reduction in petrol prices.
In Niger, although the state reportedly received 100 CNG buses, deployment has been affected by road construction and other operational challenges.
Benue Links, the state-owned transport company in Benue, has instead introduced a marginal fare increase, citing higher fuel, tyre, spare-parts and other operational costs.
In Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi, transport union officials also rejected calls for immediate fare reductions, saying petrol prices and rising maintenance costs were putting pressure on commercial operators.
Anambra and Taraba are also yet to fully benefit from the Federal Government’s CNG intervention.
In Anambra, the RTEAN chairman, Joseph Nwabueze, said the union had not been informed of any current incentive for drivers. He said 100 CNG vehicles allocated to the state under an earlier arrangement had yet to reach the South-east union.
In Taraba, NURTW chairman Ahmodu Musa said the union was still waiting for action from the state government, while the lack of CNG facilities and alternative energy sources continued to affect transportation costs.
Kano State is also awaiting the deployment of the promised CNG buses. NURTW Secretary Ahmad Khalid said the state needed more than 500 buses to address transportation challenges and create employment opportunities for transport workers.
The developments show that the impact of the CNG transport programme depends not only on the supply of buses but also on the availability of refuelling stations, conversion centres, road conditions, fuel prices and the participation of commercial transport operators.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Federal Government to consider reducing fuel taxes, citing Germany’s recent reduction in fuel tax as an example.
Atiku, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, criticised the administration’s handling of rising living costs and argued that higher fuel prices were contributing to increased transportation and food costs.
He said Germany had reduced gasoline and diesel taxes by €0.17 per litre from October to December at an estimated cost of €2.5 billion, arguing that Nigeria should similarly consider measures to reduce the burden on households.
Atiku also said his proposed approach would involve targeted support for fuel refined in Nigeria, with auditing mechanisms and restrictions to prevent diversion.
He argued that reducing fuel costs could help lower transport expenses and ease pressure on household budgets.
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