Transport fares are expected to decline across Nigeria from October 1 as the Federal Government expands the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles for public transportation.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) disclosed this in a communique issued on Thursday after a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
The meeting brought together representatives of state governments, including transport commissioners, to assess progress and readiness for the rollout of more affordable CNG and electric mobility services.
According to the communique, several states have already deployed CNG and electric buses, tricycles, motorcycles, conversion centres, refuelling stations and charging facilities.
It said commuters using supported clean-mobility services in some states were already paying fares below prevailing transport rates.
Niger State, for example, has procured 200 CNG buses, with 35 currently in operation, as well as 11 electric vehicle charging stations. In Abia State, 40 electric buses and 20 charging stations have been deployed, with plans to increase the fleet to 100 buses by December.
Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the meeting was aimed at resolving infrastructure gaps in states where CNG and electric vehicles are already available but require additional refuelling, charging and vehicle-conversion facilities.
Ahmed said states had agreed to identify their busiest transport routes and submit data that would help determine where additional CNG infrastructure should be deployed.
Each state is also expected to submit three priority interventions that can be completed in line with the October 1 target.
The initiative said states would establish implementation teams made up of officials from transport, energy and other relevant sectors. Pi-CNG & EV will appoint coordinators to work with the teams and monitor progress.
The government also plans to increase private-sector participation in the development of CNG and electric vehicle infrastructure. State investment promotion agencies are expected to adopt a common framework to attract investors into the sector.
Ahmed said the objective was to ensure that lower operating costs from CNG and electric vehicles result in reduced transport costs for commuters.
“The engagement is to ensure that the lower operating costs of CNG and electric mobility translate into actual savings for commuters,” he said.
The Federal Government and state governments are working to expand access to more affordable public transportation as the October 1 implementation target approaches.
