morganable politics/Governance
The National President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, echoed these concerns, noting that long queues at CNG stations translate into lost time and income for operators.
KaNo—
The Federal Government and state authorities have intensified efforts to deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel for transportation, aiming to reduce soaring transport costs across Nigeria.
However, uneven implementation, inadequate infrastructure, and concerns from transport operators are raising doubts about the feasibility of achieving significant fare reductions by the October 1 timeline announced by President Bola Tinubu.
The push for CNG adoption follows the Federal Government’s broader strategy to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, which has led to a sharp rise in petrol prices and, consequently, transport fares nationwide.
While authorities insist that the initiative is gaining traction, stakeholders across several states say structural bottlenecks could delay its intended benefits.
After a meeting with the 36 state governors on August 27, Tinubu announced the establishment of an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The committee, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is tasked with coordinating efforts among states to accelerate vehicle conversion, expand refuelling infrastructure, and ensure that savings from cheaper fuel translate into lower fares for commuters.
In a recent update, the Presidency disclosed that over 120,000 vehicles had already been converted to run on CNG, supported by more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 refuelling stations nationwide.
Officials say this expansion reflects growing acceptance of the alternative fuel and signals progress toward a more affordable and sustainable transport system.
Despite these claims, transport operators and commuters in several parts of the country report that access to CNG remains limited.
In major urban centres such as Lagos, long queues at refuelling stations have become a recurring challenge, undermining the efficiency gains expected from the initiative.
At a NIPCO CNG station in Ibafo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, queues of buses, cars, and trucks were observed stretching toward the highway late into the night.
Drivers said they have been waiting several hours to refuel, a situation they say erodes the cost advantages of switching from petrol.
In an interview with Punch News,a commercial driver, Saheed, described the experience as frustrating and time-consuming.
He explained that he had arrived at the station as early as 7:30 pm but was only approaching the pump hours later due to the limited number of stations serving the area.
According to him, while petrol remains expensive at around N1,400 per litre, the scarcity of CNG refuelling points forces some drivers to revert to petrol despite the cost.
The National President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, echoed these concerns, noting that long queues at CNG stations translate into lost time and income for operators.
He acknowledged, however, that the government’s ongoing investment in infrastructure could eventually ease the situation.
Othman pointed to interventions through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, which he said would support the construction of additional stations and reduce congestion.
He maintained that despite the initial challenges, CNG remains a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option compared to petrol and diesel.
According to him, resistance to the transition is partly due to the natural reluctance of operators to embrace change, but the economic benefits would ultimately drive adoption.
Across the states, the implementation of transport reforms linked to the CNG initiative varies widely, reflecting differing levels of readiness and local policy approaches.
In Plateau State, the government has opted for direct intervention through subsidised transport services. The Commissioner for Transport, Davou Jatau, said the state currently offers one of the most affordable intra-city transport systems in Nigeria, with government buses charging as little as N200 for trips covering between 18 and 20 kilometres within Jos.
Jatau described the programme as a social intervention designed to alleviate the burden on residents rather than generate profit.
He contrasted the subsidised fares with prevailing taxi costs, which range from N1,000 to N1,400 for similar distances following the removal of fuel subsidy.
He argued that the initiative demonstrates how government-led schemes can provide immediate relief to commuters, even as broader structural reforms such as the CNG transition continue to evolve.
In Kano State, authorities say they are aligning with the Federal Government’s CNG strategy while also exploring complementary solutions.
The Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Haruna Isah Dederi, disclosed that the state plans to deploy CNG-powered buses for both intra-city and interstate transport.
He added that the government had already procured 500 electric tricycles as part of efforts to diversify transport options and reduce reliance on petrol.
Plans are also underway to introduce a Rapid Bus Transit system aimed at improving efficiency and lowering costs within the metropolitan area.
Dederi expressed confidence that collaboration with the Federal Government would accelerate the rollout of CNG infrastructure and help achieve the goal of more affordable transport fares.
However, in states such as Jigawa and Zamfara, the absence of basic infrastructure remains a major obstacle.
Transport operators in Jigawa State say the Federal Government’s targets are unrealistic without functional CNG stations and conversion centres.
An official of the National Association of Transport Owners, Muhd Mudi, criticised what he described as a disconnect between policy announcements and on-the-ground realities.
He questioned how drivers were expected to switch to CNG in the absence of refuelling facilities, adding that high costs of spare parts and vehicle maintenance continue to compound the financial pressures faced by operators.
Similarly, in Zamfara State, motorists say they have yet to see any tangible evidence of the CNG initiative. A commercial driver, Aminu Suleiman, acknowledged the potential benefits of the programme but expressed scepticism about its implementation.
He noted that while the shift to cheaper fuel could ease the hardship caused by rising petrol prices, the lack of infrastructure raises concerns about whether the initiative will materialise as promised.
The Zamfara State Government has indicated that plans are underway to establish CNG facilities in Gusau and other parts of the state, though no specific timeline has been provided.
The mixed experiences across states highlight the challenges of implementing a nationwide transition to alternative fuel within a limited timeframe.
While some states have adopted interim measures such as subsidised transport and electric mobility, others remain at the early stages of infrastructure development.
Analysts say the success of the CNG initiative will depend largely on the speed at which refuelling stations and conversion centres are expanded, as well as the ability of authorities to address the concerns of transport operators.
They also emphasise the importance of effective coordination between federal and state governments, alongside sustained engagement with transport unions and private sector stakeholders.
As the October 1 deadline approaches, expectations remain high that the initiative will deliver tangible relief to commuters.
However, the current gaps in infrastructure and uneven pace of implementation suggest that achieving uniform reductions in transport costs across the country may take longer than anticipated.
