President Tinubu Unveils Major Plan Ahead Of October 1

President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, 2026, as the Federal Government intensifies its affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transport programme.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the plan followed a meeting Tinubu held with the 36 state governors on August 27, where measures to reduce transportation costs and ease the impact of rising living expenses were discussed.

Tinubu said an implementation committee under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme had been established, with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, state governments and other stakeholders working to identify priority routes and determine appropriate interventions.

“On August 27, I met with the governors of our 36 states, and we agreed on a clear objective. From October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs,” the President said.

He said the initiative had become more urgent amid disruptions in global energy supplies, which have continued to put pressure on petrol, diesel and transportation costs.

The President cited several states where CNG-powered and electric public transport services had already resulted in lower fares. According to him, commuters in Borno currently pay between ₦50 and ₦100 on some routes served by CNG and electric vehicles, compared with between ₦300 and ₦600 charged by commercial operators.

Tinubu also said Kaduna had deployed 100 CNG-powered buses offering free transportation on major routes. He stated that the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers during their first year of operation and saved commuters more than ₦3.5 billion in transportation costs.

In Oyo State, the President said the deployment of CNG buses by Pacesetter Transport reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the initial phase of the programme.

He added that alternative-energy transport services in Adamawa had reduced some fares by as much as 50 per cent, while CNG buses in Enugu had brought the Enugu-Nsukka fare down from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.

Tinubu further stated that government-supported buses in Plateau transport about 13,000 commuters daily for ₦200, compared with fares of more than ₦500 charged by commercial operators.

The President said the Federal Government’s partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers had also helped reduce fares on some commuter routes in Abuja. According to him, passengers using CNG-converted commercial vehicles on selected routes enjoy a 40 per cent reduction, with fares on the Area 1-Gwagwalada route dropping from ₦1,500 to ₦900, while the Nyanya fare fell from ₦700 to ₦420. He added that the Wuse route had dropped from ₦400 to ₦240.

Tinubu also said the fare from Suleja in Niger State to Abuja had reduced to ₦550 from about ₦800, while Abia had deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” the President said.

He commended state governments that had adopted CNG-powered transportation but called for greater efforts to expand the programme. Tinubu assured states of continued Federal Government support to increase their CNG transport fleets and develop the infrastructure required to sustain the initiative.

The President said Nigeria, as a gas-rich country, could reduce its exposure to fluctuations in global energy prices by accelerating the transition to alternative energy for transportation.

According to Tinubu, his administration has spent the past three years developing a CNG transportation system across the country, with more than 120,000 vehicles converted, over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations currently operating.

He also rejected calls for a return to petrol subsidies, arguing that the previous regime consumed trillions of naira and left the economy vulnerable to movements in international oil prices.

“At a time like this, our answer cannot be to return to the ruinous petrol subsidy regime that consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices, as some have suggested,” Tinubu said.

He urged states to sustain efforts ahead of October 1 by working with transport unions and commercial operators, supporting vehicle conversions and fleet deployment, and developing the necessary infrastructure.

The President said Edo currently had 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano had converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles and was expanding its conversion and refuelling network. He added that Delta, Kwara and Lagos were also expanding CNG-supported transport services, while Akwa Ibom had taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of their commercial deployment.

Tinubu urged state governments to ensure that savings achieved through cheaper energy are reflected in the fares paid by commuters.

“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings. Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” he said.