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The Federal Government is stepping up collaboration with state governments to drive down public transport fares through the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles, with implementation expected to deliver relief to commuters from October 1.
The move forms part of efforts to implement the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP), following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for measures to reduce transportation costs for Nigerians by October 1.
The Federal Government’s renewed push comes amid persistent pressure on households from high transportation costs, with the NACTP expected to deepen Federal-State cooperation in deploying lower-cost public transportation solutions.
To advance the initiative, the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) will convene transport, energy, environment and other relevant officials from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja tomorrow.
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The one-day stakeholder engagement is expected to focus on translating the Federal Government’s CNG transport policy into state-level implementation plans, including the deployment of CNG-powered public transport vehicles and the development of supporting infrastructure.
According to the Pi-CNG & EV, the meeting will also identify state-specific transportation needs and establish implementation frameworks that would enable lower operating costs from CNG adoption to translate into cheaper fares for commuters.
Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed, said the initiative would only achieve its objective if the savings from cheaper CNG fuel were passed on to passengers.
“The savings that come from the adoption of CNG must ultimately reach the Nigerian commuter. This requires the Federal Government, State Governments, transport operators, and other stakeholders to work together on practical implementation models that reflect the realities of each state,” he said.
