Tinubu Says Transport Fares Have Dropped 31% to 81% in Seven States and FCT

President Bola Tinubu says commuter fares have fallen by between 31% and 81% in seven states and the Federal Capital Territory following the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses. He announced the figures on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in a post on his official X account, using an infographic titled "Cheaper transport, real savings".

The figures were credited to state governments and the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV). "These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings," Tinubu said.

Borno records steepest drop

Borno posted the largest reduction among the states cited. On routes where commercial operators charge between N300 and N600, CNG-powered and electric buses now charge N50 to N100.

In Oyo, CNG buses under Pacesetter Transport cut the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200 during initial deployment, a 60% reduction. Adamawa recorded up to a 50% reduction, including a route where fares fell from N8,000 to N4,000.

Enugu has deployed 100 CNG buses, with the Enugu-Nsukka fare dropping from N2,500 to N1,500, a 40% reduction. In Niger State, commuters on the Suleja-Abuja route now pay N550 instead of about N800, a 31% cut.

Plateau State government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters daily for N200, compared with more than N500 charged by private operators. Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50%.

In Abuja, a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers produced a 40% reduction on several routes. The Area 1 to Gwagwalada fare fell from N1,500 to N900, the Nyanya route dropped from N700 to N420, and the Wuse fare declined from N400 to N240.

Conversion drive spreads across states

Tinubu said other states are expanding alternative-energy transport. Edo has 50 CNG buses in active service, while Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles. Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG transport services, and Akwa Ibom has received 50 CNG buses. Nasarawa has more than 30 CNG buses, alongside a conversion centre and a refuelling station.

The president said more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG nationwide, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 refuelling stations now in place. Governors agreed on August 27 that measurable fare reductions should reach more Nigerians from October 1.

CPPE flags pressure on households

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has said the economic gains recorded under Tinubu's reform programme have not yet translated into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians. CPPE Chief Executive Officer Dr Muda Yusuf acknowledged improvements in government revenues, foreign exchange market stability, external reserves, trade surplus and investor confidence. According to Yusuf, Nigeria's real Gross Domestic Product growth rose to 3.89% in the first quarter of 2026.

Cheaper bus fares matter for households because transport is a major driver of food and goods prices. If the reductions hold beyond the cited states and routes, traders and commuters could see some relief in daily costs, though the impact on headline inflation will depend on how widely the subsidised services spread.