Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians of measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1 through expanded use of cheaper Comprised Natural Gas (CNG) powered transit.
According to the statement by the Presidency on Saturday, the Nigerian Federal Government is working with state governments and transport stakeholders to ensure savings from cheaper energy translate into lower fares.
Tinubu recalled that he had met with the governors of the 36 states on August 27 and that they agreed that more Nigerians should benefit from lower transport costs.
He disclosed that an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme was subsequently established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The committee, chaired by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, is working with stakeholders to identify priority transport corridors and determine appropriate interventions.
He said that the committee, PI-CNG & EV, states and other stakeholders were already working to put necessary arrangements in place.
Tinubu explained that the urgency has increased amid the current global energy crisis and its impact on petrol and diesel prices and transportation costs.
He cited existing CNG and electric transport initiatives across states as evidence that cheaper energy could translate into significant savings for commuters.
He commended governors and state governments that had moved quickly, but urged them to do more, assuring them of Federal Government’s support.
Tinubu said that disruptions to global energy supplies were again putting pressure on petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide.
He explained that Nigeria cannot control global energy markets but, as a gas-rich nation, it can reduce its exposure through cheaper alternatives.
Tinubu disclosed that his administration had, over the last three years, invested deliberately in building a CNG transportation ecosystem across Nigeria.
He said over 120,000 vehicles had been converted, with over 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations nationwide.
President Tinubu urged states to sustain the momentum towards Oct. 1 by working with transport unions and commercial operators to support conversion and fleet deployment.
Above all, he urged the governors to ensure that savings from cheaper energy reach Nigerian citizens through lower fares.
Tinubu assured that the Federal Government would continue supporting CNG infrastructure, conversion capacity and access while creating an enabling environment for investors.
“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings
“Now we must move faster and scale this so that more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day,” he added.
GIK/APA