Tinubu: Nigerians to Enjoy Cheaper Transport Fares From October 1

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians should begin to enjoy reduced transportation fares from October 1, following plans by state governors to leverage Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles to cut transportation costs.

Tinubu disclosed this after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, saying the governors had, on their own initiative, resolved to take immediate measures to reduce the cost of transportation within their respective states.

The President said the initiative would focus particularly on intra-state transportation, where rising transport costs have had a direct impact on Nigerians.

According to him, the Federal Government has already made significant investments in the country’s energy transition through the Presidential CNG Initiative.

Tinubu said more than 120,000 vehicles had so far been converted to CNG nationwide, while over 100,000 additional conversion kits were being processed.

He added that the government was also expanding CNG conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure across the country.

The President disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, was financing more than 100 gas projects nationwide, comprising 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.

Tinubu said four of the projects had been commissioned in Lagos, Abuja and Owerri in May, including a 15-station refuelling network in Lagos and a facility in Abuja capable of serving 1,000 cars and tricycles as well as 50 trucks and buses daily.

He further disclosed that he had directed the rollout of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide.

The new stations are in addition to the 500 stations previously ordered by the Fund earlier in the year, bringing the total planned rollout to 1,000 CNG refuelling stations across the country.

Tinubu said the collaboration with state governments was necessary to ensure that the benefits of cheaper and cleaner fuel translate into lower transportation costs for citizens.

He noted that vehicles powered by CNG could spend between 60 and 80 per cent less on fuel compared with petrol-powered vehicles.

“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve,” the President said.

He added that a joint Federal and State committee would be established to commence immediate implementation of measures aimed at reducing transportation costs.

Tinubu said the government’s objective was to ensure that the savings from cheaper CNG fuel were passed directly to commuters through lower fares.

“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares,” he said.

The President stressed the need for all tiers of government to work together to cushion the economic burden on Nigerians, adding that “cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares.”

He concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to policies that would improve the welfare of Nigerians under the “Nigeria First” agenda.