BREAKING: Tinubu Orders 500 More CNG Stations, Targets Cheaper Transport Fares For Nigerians

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the rollout of an additional 500 compressed natural gas refuelling stations nationwide as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs and ensure cheaper fares for Nigerians.

The President disclosed this on Thursday after his discussion with the Governors’ Forum, saying the federal government and state governments had agreed to take immediate measures to bring down transportation costs across the country.

Tinubu said the additional 500 CNG stations were in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 CNG refuelling stations nationwide.

He said the federal government was already investing significantly in the energy transition, particularly through the Presidential CNG Initiative.

“Through the Presidential CNG Initiative, over 120,000 vehicles have been converted nationwide, with more than 100,000 additional conversion kits in the works,” the President said.

He added that the government was continuing to expand conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure nationwide.

According to Tinubu, the federal government, through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, was currently financing more than 100 gas projects across the country.

The projects include 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.

The President said he commissioned four of the projects in Lagos, Abuja and Owerri in May.

They included a 15-station refuelling network in Lagos and an Abuja facility capable of serving 1,000 cars and tricycles and 50 trucks and buses daily.

Tinubu said the latest measures were aimed at ensuring that the cost savings from CNG translated into cheaper transportation for Nigerians.

He said the Governors’ Forum had, on its own initiative, resolved to take immediate measures to reduce transportation costs in their respective states, with a strong focus on CNG and electric vehicles.

“Intra-state transport is where Nigerians feel the cost most directly, and it is where the states hold the levers,” the President said.

Tinubu disclosed that the federal government and state governments had agreed to establish a joint committee to begin implementing the measures immediately.

He explained that a vehicle running on CNG spends between 60 and 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol.

“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares,” he said.

The President added, “We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”

He urged all tiers of government to continue doing their part and work together for the benefit of Nigerians.

“Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian,” Tinubu said.