Commuters across Nigeria are set for relief as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu orders state governments to accelerate the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, targeting measurable fare reductions by October 1, 2026. ​
The order follows a high-level executive session held on August 27, 2026, at the State House, Abuja, where President Tinubu met with the 36 state governors and leadership of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Under the direction of NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, an implementation committee is coordinating with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV) to expand conversion assets and secure key transit routes ahead of the deadline. ​
In an update issued on Saturday, September 19, 2026, President Tinubu framed the transition as a necessary cushion against rising global fuel costs. Operating commercial transit on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) slashes fuel expenditure by 60% to 80% compared to conventional petrol or diesel.
​”From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares,” President Tinubu declared. “Intra-state transport is where Nigerians feel the cost most directly, and it is where the states hold the levers.” ​
The Federal Government cited early data showing significant savings where alternative-energy fleets have already been integrated: Borno State’s CNG and electric transport carries commuters for ₦50–₦100, down from commercial rates of ₦300–₦600.
Kaduna State’s 100-bus CNG fleet provided free transit to 3.2 million passengers over its first year, saving citizens over ₦3.5 billion. Plateau State-backed transit moves 13,000 daily commuters at ₦200, compared to the ₦500 charged by private operators.
Enugu State lowered the Enugu–Nsukka fare from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500 after deploying 100 CNG buses. Oyo State’s Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos–Ibadan inter-state trip from ₦8,000 to ₦3,200.
Adamawa State slashed fares by 50% (from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000), while Abia State introduced 40 electric buses featuring a 50% fare subsidy. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) & Niger State: In partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), CNG-converted commercial vehicles in Abuja achieved a 40% fare drop across major routes:
Area 1 to Gwagwalada: Reduced from ₦1,500 to ₦900, Nyanya to Central District: Reduced from ₦700 to ₦420. ​To support the October 1 mandate, federal agencies have accelerated conversion capacity:
Over 120,000 vehicles converted nationwide, with Kano State alone converting more than 1,000 commercial units and Edo State operating 50 active CNG buses. More than 90 CNG refuelling stations and 400 certified conversion centres are active.
Financed through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, the network is expanding to 1,000 refuelling stations across all geopolitical zones, including major mother-daughter station hubs recently commissioned in Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri. ​
President Tinubu urged state executives, private transport operators, and finance partners to maintain operational alignment to ensure savings reach commuters directly by October 1.
