ABUJA — Commuters across several Nigerian states are beginning to see lower public transport fares as federal and state authorities roll out compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle fleets to ease the cost of living.
The price cuts follow a target set by President Bola Tinubu for transport costs to fall ahead of the country’s Independence Day on October 1.
The initiative was detailed in a statement signed by Onyekachi Eke, Head of Brand and Communications at the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV).
Under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, state governments have introduced a mix of subsidies, electric tricycles, and gas-powered buses to pass operational savings directly to passengers.
In the capital, Abuja, commuters travelling on key routes such as Kubwa to Berger now pay 500 naira ($0.30) on CNG buses—half the 1,000 naira charged on traditional diesel vehicles. Similar 50% fare drops have been recorded in commercial hubs like Lagos, where the route between Ikorodu and Fadeyi fell from 1,200 naira to 680 naira.
The transport push varies by region:Borno State has introduced 500 electric tricycles, 20 electric buses, and 150 taxis powered by eight standalone solar charging hubs, offering heavily discounted fares starting at 50 naira; Kaduna State is operating 100 CNG buses free of charge on major routes, saving commuters an estimated 3.5 billion naira over the past year; Enugu State has seen private operators lower their prices to compete with state-subsidised gas buses, cutting travel fares on the Enugu–Nsukka route by more than half.
Additional rollouts and proposed 50% fare reductions are underway in states including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, and Zamfara.
The move comes as Nigeria rapidly expands its alternative-energy infrastructure to offset rising living costs following recent fuel subsidy reforms. The government agency aims to have at least 150 operational CNG refuelling stations established across the country before the end of the year.”There is no single model that will work everywhere,” said Ismaeel Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV. “What matters is that the lower cost of energy translates into lower transportation costs for Nigerians. If an operator is spending less on energy but the passenger continues to pay the same fare, then our work is not complete.”
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