By taibat U mmi Yakubu
The Federal Government’s push to replace petrol and diesel-powered transport with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles is beginning to translate into cheaper journeys for commuters across several parts of Nigeria, with some routes recording fare reductions of up to 50 per cent.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) said the emerging reductions were being driven by the expansion of CNG buses, electric buses, taxis and tricycles by federal and state governments, alongside the development of refuelling and charging infrastructure.
Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the development represented part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to ensure that the lower operating costs associated with alternative energy were passed on to ordinary commuters.
According to Ahmed, President Bola Tinubu had set October 1 as a target for Nigerians to begin seeing measurable improvements in transportation costs as governments and transport operators accelerated the deployment of cleaner and cheaper energy alternatives.
“Across the country, different models are already emerging,” Ahmed said, noting that states were adopting approaches suited to their respective transport systems while expanding the infrastructure needed to sustain the transition.
One of the most striking examples is emerging in Borno State, where 500 electric tricycles, 20 electric buses and 150 electric saloon cars and taxis have reportedly been deployed, supported by eight stand-alone solar-powered charging terminals.
The state has also introduced heavily subsidised fares, with commuters paying N50 for buses, N100 for taxis and N200 for tricycles. Borno is simultaneously expanding its CNG network, with three stations planned for Maiduguri — one already operational and two nearing completion — as well as vehicle-conversion facilities.
In Abia State, 40 electric buses are already operating on public transport routes, with fares reportedly subsidised by 50 per cent. Zamfara is also introducing 100 electric taxis, with fares expected to be about 40 per cent lower than existing rates.
Enugu Route Sees Sharp Fare Reduction
The impact of cheaper fuel is also being felt in Enugu, where 100 CNG buses operated by FEMADEC on behalf of the state government serve several busy routes, including Enugu–Nsukka, ESUTH–Agbani, Enugu–UNTH, Holy Ghost–Emene and other major commercial and residential corridors.
The Enugu–Nsukka journey, which previously cost commuters between N3,000 and N4,000, was initially reduced to N2,200 before falling further to N1,600 on the CNG-supported service.
The Federal Capital Territory is recording similar reductions. On the Kubwa–Berger route, passengers using CNG buses pay N500, compared with N1,000 for diesel-powered buses. The Apo–Nyanya/Mararaba route also costs N500 on CNG, against N1,000 on diesel.
Other FCT routes have recorded reductions as well, with Masaka–Berger priced at N600 instead of N1,000, while Berger–Gwagwalada costs N700 compared with N1,200. The FCT fleet is expected to receive 26 additional buses.
Lagos commuters are also among those benefiting from lower fares under the alternative-energy transport push. The Ikorodu–Fadeyi route has reportedly dropped from N1,200 to N680, while Ikorodu–Maryland has fallen from N1,000 to N570.
Similarly, Ikeja–Obalende has moved from N1,400 to N720, with other routes recording varying reductions.
Several proposed routes across the country could see comparable cuts. In Akwa Ibom, Uyo–Ikot Ekpene is proposed to fall from N1,300 to N650, Uyo–Eket from N2,500 to N1,250, and Uyo–Oron from N3,000 to N1,500.
In Edo, proposed fares include a reduction on the Benin–Auchi route from N8,000 to N4,000, while Kingsquare–Ugbowo–Oluku is projected to fall from N600 to N300.
Delta and Jigawa are also preparing cheaper CNG services. The proposed Warri–Asaba fare is N4,900, compared with the current N7,000, while Dutse–Kano is projected at N2,000 against N3,500.
Delta has also developed 22 electric-vehicle charging stations as part of its preparations for wider adoption of electric mobility.
Kaduna, Niger, Ebonyi Join the Shift
Kaduna State is another major beneficiary of the programme, with 100 CNG buses providing free transportation on major routes. Pi-CNG & EV said the buses had transported about 3.2 million passengers, generating estimated savings of more than N3.5 billion for commuters.
In Niger State, CNG-powered transport between Suleja and Abuja is already offering cheaper journeys, while the state continues to expand its CNG and electric mobility infrastructure.
Ebonyi State, meanwhile, has acquired luxury buses as part of efforts to reduce the transportation burden on civil servants. Pi-CNG & EV said it was working with the state to identify opportunities for wider deployment of CNG and electric vehicles and the infrastructure required to support them.
The agency also plans another round of bus deployments, with vehicles expected to operate on designated routes at reduced fares.
The current deployment includes 61 buses earmarked for commercial operations: 13 each for the FCT, Kano and Lagos; five each for Delta, Kaduna and Katsina; three for Enugu; and two each for Borno and Niger.
Ahmed said the programme was gaining momentum in areas such as Kano and the South-East, where vehicle-conversion activities are increasing alongside the expansion of established CNG markets.
He added that new refuelling stations were being commissioned regularly, with Pi-CNG & EV working with industry partners towards having about 150 operational CNG refuelling stations across the country before the end of 2026.
Rather than marking the end of the fare-reduction programme, Ahmed said October 1 should be viewed as another milestone in a wider transition that would continue as more CNG buses, electric vehicles, refuelling stations and charging points become available.
He said Pi-CNG & EV would continue working with governments, transport operators and industry stakeholders to expand alternative-energy infrastructure and ensure that savings generated by cheaper energy ultimately translate into more affordable transportation for Nigerians.
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