FG Revives One Million CNG Vehicle Plan as Bus Fares Drop in Abuja, Enugu, Borno

The federal government has renewed its push to roll out one million compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles across Nigeria, with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, directing officials to speed up investment in refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion.

President Bola Tinubu, meanwhile, cited reported fare reductions in some states, including a drop from N1,500 to N500 on certain routes in Abuja and from N4,000 to N1,600 in Enugu. Fares as low as N50 were reported in Borno State.

Ekpo orders faster roll-out

Ekpo gave the directive in Abuja over the weekend while receiving progress reports from the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles and the Decade of Gas Secretariat.

A statement issued on Sunday by the minister's spokesman, Louis Ibah, said Ekpo asked both bodies to identify gaps, attract more investment and expand the network of refuelling stations to accelerate nationwide adoption.

Ekpo said: "It is important that we listen to the directive of Mr. President to make transportation cheaper via CNG. We will continue to give you all the backing, to provide the necessary assistance to make sure we drive this project to a logical conclusion."

The minister added that Nigeria's large gas reserves could help lower transport costs, increase domestic gas consumption and support economic growth.

Ismaeel Ahmed, chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, said the initiative would increase investments and expand its vehicle conversion programme to bring more gas-powered vehicles onto Nigerian roads.

Tinubu points to cheaper fares

President Tinubu said he was encouraged by reports that investments in CNG, electric and hybrid transportation were helping reduce fares in parts of the country.

He said the savings could leave households with more money for food, school fees and other essential expenses.

Tinubu also addressed political promises on the cost of living, urging Nigerians to consider how such proposals would be funded, implemented and sustained.

He said: "A deferred bill is still a bill. Any promise that depends on postponing its costs leaves an obligation that Nigerians, including future generations, may eventually have to meet."

The president added that his administration was focused on providing immediate relief without creating long-term financial burdens.

What could slow the plan

Wider access to cheaper transport fares will depend on the expansion of refuelling infrastructure, the affordability of vehicle conversions and whether transport operators pass fuel savings on to passengers.

Pressure on petrol prices remains. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has pushed petrol prices up to N1,405 per litre at its filling stations, lifting the pump price by N35 from the previous rate of N1,370 per litre. The company launched the discount on October 1 to mark Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.

For Nigerian households, the CNG push matters because transport costs feed directly into food prices and daily budgets. Any sustained drop in fares would ease pressure on consumers already squeezed by petrol prices above N1,400 per litre.