JUST IN: Tinubu responds to commuters, highlights efforts to reduce transport costs

Economy & Policy, News, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) —  President Bola Tinubu has responded to Nigerians who praised his administration’s efforts to reduce transportation costs, citing lower fares on some routes and the expansion of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric transport services.

In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu addressed commuters Blessing, Ada and Abigail, as well as taxi driver Kabir and Emmanuel, who called for more buses to serve communities.

The president said he watched Blessing’s video explaining that her journey from Masaka to Berger in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) now costs ₦500, down from ₦1,500.

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“That is ₦1,000 saved every trip. I know what that means when you have a family to feed, bills to pay and other responsibilities waiting at home,” he said.

Tinubu also cited the experiences of Ada and Abigail, who reportedly now pay ₦1,600 instead of ₦4,000 to travel from Enugu to Nsukka, saving ₦2,400 per journey.

He said Kabir, a taxi driver, reported that ₦10,000 worth of CNG enabled him to make three more return trips than drivers using petrol.

The president added that he had received encouraging feedback from Borno State, where some commuters reportedly pay as little as ₦50 per trip on CNG-powered and electric vehicles.

Tinubu said the accounts demonstrated the intended benefits of investing in alternative-fuel transportation, arguing that lower operating costs for drivers should translate into more affordable fares for passengers.

He acknowledged that removing the petrol subsidy had created difficulties for many households, adding that the decision came with a responsibility to provide practical alternatives to ease transportation costs.

Tinubu Lists Buses Deployed Across States

Responding to Emmanuel’s request for more buses, Tinubu said the Federal Government was working with state governments, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and private investors to expand affordable transportation under the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme.

According to the president, Ekiti State had received 15 buses in recent weeks, Lagos 20, while Akwa Ibom had 50 buses ready for service.

He also said Katsina had introduced 30 CNG hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles, while Kano had received 30 CNG buses and five electric buses. Another rollout was planned for Edo State.

Tinubu further stated that Kaduna’s 100 CNG buses had transported more than three million passengers.

Beyond the bus deployments, he said more than 400 certified conversion centres had converted over 120,000 vehicles to CNG. He added that the government was expanding refuelling infrastructure to improve access to alternative fuel.

Government Announces Measures to Ease Fuel Costs

The president also acknowledged the pressure of rising petrol prices on households and businesses, outlining measures he said were intended to cushion the impact.

He said the government had waived more than ₦3.3 trillion in fuel taxes and duties, while NNPC Retail was foregoing its profit margin for 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators.

Tinubu added that the government was working towards a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on wholesale petrol supply costs to reduce price volatility.

He said the measures were designed to ease immediate financial pressure while the government continued expanding affordable transportation alternatives.