Abuja: The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI), in partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has initiated a 40 percent reduction in public transport fares for CNG-converted commercial vehicles. This enforcement is part of an effort to make transportation more affordable for Nigerians, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement was made in Abuja during an event at the Area 1 Park, Garki, where Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, P-CNGI Chief Executive Officer and Programme Director, highlighted the initiative’s goals. Oluwagbemi, represented by Mr. David Idakwo, Regional CNG Expansion Coordinator, North, explained that the event was aimed at demonstrating the real-world impact of CNG, reaffirming the commitment to cleaner, affordable transportation, and showcasing the practical implementation of CNG adoption.
The initiative aims to significantly lower transportation costs for the public by working closely with the NURTW to convert a substantial number of their vehicles to CNG. This conversion has resulted in fare reductions on various routes serviced by the NURTW CNG-converted vehicles. For instance, fares from Area 1 to Gwagwalada, Bwari/Dutse, Kuje, and other destinations have seen a notable reduction, making transportation more accessible to everyday commuters.
The reduction project is ongoing, with more vehicles being converted and plans to expand to other parks within Abuja and eventually nationwide. Vehicles that have been converted are marked with P-CNGI stickers for easy identification by passengers. The NURTW has thousands of registered commercial vehicles, and over 50 percent have been converted in collaboration with the union’s leadership.
To ensure compliance with the fare reduction, a task force comprising union and P-CNG officials has been established. Passengers are encouraged to report any non-compliance through designated customer service numbers or email, and mystery shoppers are deployed to monitor adherence to the new fare structure. The initiative also seeks to engage the private sector in expanding gas infrastructure to alleviate fuel station queues.
Mr. Oluwagbemi emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to address high transport and energy costs and encouraged media outlets to raise public awareness and promote further CNG adoption. Mr. Ibrahim Jubril, Secretary of the Garki Branch of NURTW, praised the president’s efforts to alleviate public transportation costs and detailed the union’s strategies to ensure compliance and protect passenger interests.
