The Federal Government has announced lower transport fares on selected routes across Nigeria following the deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) confirming that commuters in the FCT, Lagos, Enugu, Kaduna, Borno and several other states are already paying less — though the relief is far from universal.
Pi-CNG & EV Executive Chairman Ismaeel Ahmed disclosed the figures in a statement issued Wednesday by the initiative’s Head of Brand and Communications, Onyekachi Eke. Ahmed attributed the savings to investments in alternative-energy vehicles, refuelling stations and charging infrastructure. However, a number of the fare reductions highlighted remain proposals rather than operational realities.
Where fares have actually fallen
In the Federal Capital Territory, CNG buses on the Kubwa–Berger and Apo–Nyanya/Mararaba routes now charge ₦500, against ₦1,000 on diesel-powered services. The Masaka–Berger route costs ₦600 instead of ₦1,000, while Berger–Gwagwalada has dropped from ₦1,200 to ₦700. A further 26 buses are expected to join the FCT fleet.
Lagos has seen comparable movement. Ikorodu–Fadeyi fares fell from ₦1,200 to ₦680, Ikorodu–Maryland from ₦1,000 to ₦570, and Ikeja–Obalende from ₦1,400 to ₦720. In Enugu, 100 CNG buses operated by FEMADEC on behalf of the state government have pushed the Enugu–Nsukka fare down from a range of ₦3,000–₦4,000 to just ₦1,600.
Kaduna stands out among the states. Its 100 CNG buses operate free of charge on major routes and have reportedly carried approximately 3.2 million passengers, delivering estimated savings exceeding ₦3.5 billion. Borno has gone further still, deploying 500 electric tricycles, 20 electric buses and 150 electric taxis backed by eight solar-powered charging terminals — offering bus rides at ₦50, taxis at ₦100 and tricycles at ₦200.
In Abia, 40 electric buses provide transport at fares subsidised by 50 per cent. Zamfara is introducing 100 electric taxis with fares expected to come in 40 per cent lower than current rates.
Proposals still waiting to become reality
Several states have announced intended fare cuts that are not yet in place. In Akwa Ibom, proposed fares would halve the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene route to ₦650, Uyo–Eket to ₦1,250 and Uyo–Oron to ₦1,500. Edo’s proposed Benin–Auchi fare sits at ₦4,000 against the current ₦8,000, while Delta’s Warri–Asaba route could fall from ₦7,000 to ₦4,900 and Jigawa’s Dutse–Kano from ₦3,500 to ₦2,000.
Ogun and Oyo have been identified for further reductions, and Niger is expanding CNG-supported services between Suleja and Abuja. Delta has developed 22 electric vehicle charging stations, while Ebonyi has acquired luxury buses to ease civil servants’ transport costs as broader alternative-energy discussions continue.
Ahmed linked the measures to the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, which aims to convert lower operating costs into cheaper fares for ordinary commuters. President Bola Tinubu had set 1 October as a target for measurable transport savings. Passengers interviewed on 2 October in Kaduna, Oyo, Enugu, Lagos and the FCT told reporters they were still paying existing fares on most routes, with operators citing expensive fuel and the absence of meaningful intervention. The government’s reported gains, for now, apply to specific services — not the country at large.