President Bola Tinubu has announced that his administration has converted over 120,000 vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) since 2023, citing falling transport fares across several states as proof that the initiative is delivering savings for Nigerians. The president made the disclosure in a series of posts on his official X account on Friday, September 19, 2026.
More Than 400 Conversion Centres and 90 Refuelling Stations Operational
Tinubu stated that Nigeria now has more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations, with both figures rising daily. He listed specific fare reductions on commuter routes to back his claims, including a 40 per cent reduction on several Abuja routes through a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
On the Abuja routes, the Area 1 to Gwagwalada fare dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900, Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420, and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240. In Plateau State, government-supported buses carry roughly 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200 per trip, compared to the market rate of over ₦500. In Niger State, the Suleja to Abuja route now costs ₦550, down from about ₦800. Abia State has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.
"These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings," Tinubu wrote.
State Governments Urged to Scale Up CNG Infrastructure Before October 1
The president also noted progress in other states, saying Edo has 50 CNG buses already in active service, Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles, and Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations. Delta, Kwara, and Lagos are also expanding CNG-supported transport services.
Tinubu called on all state governors to sustain the momentum ahead of October 1, urging them to work with transport unions, support vehicle conversions, and ensure that savings from cheaper energy translate into lower fares for passengers. He rejected calls to reinstate the petrol subsidy regime, describing it as "ruinous" and one that "consumed trillions of naira and left our economy exposed to every movement in international oil prices."
"We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home with greater urgency," he said.
Federal Government to Expand CNG Infrastructure and Conversion Capacity
Addressing global energy pressures pushing up petrol and diesel costs, Tinubu said Nigeria cannot control international oil markets but can reduce its exposure as a gas-rich nation. The Federal Government, he added, will continue to expand CNG infrastructure and conversion capacity while creating conditions for states, transport operators, and private investors to participate in growing the ecosystem.
Previously, Legit.ng reported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on President Tinubu to use the eight months remaining in office to bring down petrol prices and ease the economic burden on Nigerian families, warning that distributing bags of rice cannot substitute for sound energy policy. Atiku, in a public address titled "Address on Fuel Prices, Palliatives and the Cost of Living," said the consequences of the May 29, 2023 petrol subsidy removal without adequate transition support for workers, farmers and businesses had travelled "from the petrol station to the bus stop, from the bus stop to the market, and from the market to the family dining table."
The president's announcement underscores the administration's focus on CNG as a key response to fuel costs, with concrete fare reductions already visible on several routes across Nigeria.
