By Sulyman Gobir
President Bola Tinubu has directed the rollout of an additional 500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations across Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce transportation costs following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Tinubu gave the directive on Thursday after meeting with state governors, who he said had agreed to take immediate steps to reduce transport fares in their respective states by adopting cheaper energy alternatives, including CNG and electric vehicles.
According to a statement issued by the President after the meeting, the additional 500 stations will bring the Federal Government’s planned nationwide CNG refuelling network to 1,000 stations.
“I have also directed the additional rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country,” the President said in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday night.
Tinubu said the immediate objective of the initiative was to ensure that Nigerians begin to benefit directly from the lower operating costs associated with CNG-powered vehicles.
He explained that vehicles powered by CNG typically spend between 60 and 80 per cent less on fuel compared with petrol-powered vehicles.
The President said the Federal Government and state governors had also agreed to establish a joint committee to implement measures aimed at reducing transportation costs.
“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares,” he said, adding, “We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!”
Tinubu noted that intra-state transportation remained one of the areas where Nigerians felt the impact of high transport costs most directly. He therefore stressed the important role of state governments in delivering relief to commuters.
“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve,” he said.
The President said the Federal Government is investing significantly in the transition from petrol-powered transportation to CNG and other alternative energy sources.
According to him, more than 120,000 vehicles have so far been converted to CNG nationwide, while over 100,000 additional conversion kits are currently in the pipeline.
He added that the government was expanding vehicle conversion centres and CNG refuelling infrastructure across the country.
