October 1, 2026 was supposed to be the day Nigerians started paying less to get around. In a statement on September 19, President Bola Tinubu told the 36 state governments that “from October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs,” powered by cheaper compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.
Three days in, the picture is mixed. Some states have rolled out CNG buses with fares cut by half or more. Others, including Lagos, have taken delivery of buses but have yet to announce new fares. Commercial operators in several states say they cannot cut fares while petrol and spare parts stay expensive. Here’s what has actually changed, what the savings look like, and what it means if you’re a commuter, a driver or a car owner thinking about CNG conversion.
What the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme Is
The programme came out of an August 27 meeting between the President and the state governors. An implementation committee was set up under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, working with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV).
The idea is simple: CNG costs far less per kilometre than petrol or diesel, so buses running on gas should be able to charge lower fares. The President’s statement asked states to:
- Work with transport unions (NURTW, RTEAN) and commercial operators
- Support vehicle conversion and fleet deployment
- Make it easier to build refuelling and conversion infrastructure
- Make sure cheaper energy shows up in lower fares, and doesn’t just become profit for operators
The President also ruled out a return to petrol subsidy. He called the old regime “ruinous” and pointed to CNG as the home-grown alternative. Pi-CNG later said, according to THISDAY, that October 1 is when the Federal Government starts monitoring the rollout, not a date by which every state must cut fares at once.
The headline numbers
According to the Presidency, Nigeria now has:
- More than 120,000 vehicles converted to CNG
- Over 400 certified conversion centres
- More than 90 CNG refuelling stations nationwide
Separate industry figures reported in August put the number of operational CNG refuelling stations at 176 across 24 states and the FCT, counting NIPCO’s network. Different bodies count stations differently, so treat both figures as approximate.
Where Fares Have Actually Dropped
The fare cuts are real on routes covered by government-backed CNG and electric buses. These are the figures the Presidency cited on September 19:
- Abuja (NURTW partnership, CNG-converted vehicles): about 40% off. Area 1 to Gwagwalada fell from ₦1,500 to ₦900, Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420, and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240.
- Oyo (Pacesetter Transport): Lagos–Ibadan dropped from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during the first deployment.
- Enugu (100 CNG buses): Enugu–Nsukka fell from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500.
- Adamawa: some fares cut by up to 50%, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.
- Borno: CNG and electric services charge ₦50–₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge ₦300–₦600.
- Plateau: about 13,000 daily commuters pay ₦200 on government-supported buses, against more than ₦500 commercially.
- Niger: Suleja–Abuja service at ₦550, against about ₦800.
- Kaduna: CNG buses run free on major routes. The state says they carried about 3.2 million passengers in their first year and saved commuters an estimated ₦3.5 billion.
Other states announced moves in the days before and after the deadline. Ekiti flagged off 15 CNG buses from the Federal Government and is targeting fare cuts of 50% or more on routes including Ado Ekiti to Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja. Kwara said 20 federally supplied CNG buses are running on Ilorin–Abuja, Ilorin–Lagos and Ilorin–Enugu, with 10 more expected. Akwa Ibom has 50 CNG buses, Cross River has 10, and Abia plans to grow its fleet to 100 by year-end. Abia’s Umuahia–Arochukwu “Green shuttle” fare is ₦2,000, against ₦5,000 from private operators. Edo plans to unveil 50 CNG buses on October 15.
Lagos: More CNG Buses, Diesel Phase-Out, But No New Fares Yet
Lagos has the country’s biggest regulated public transport system, so it is the state to watch. On September 30, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) received 20 more high-capacity CNG buses from the Federal Government. That brings the CNG fleet in the regulated system to about 170, up from roughly 150, according to LAMATA’s Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo. The new buses are expected to add capacity on busy corridors such as Ikorodu–TBS.
LAMATA has also confirmed a bigger structural change. From 2026, it will no longer accept new diesel buses from operators in the regulated system. New buses must run on CNG or electricity, and existing diesel buses will be replaced over time. The long-term aim is a fully electric regulated fleet, in line with Lagos’ net-zero 2050 target.
Cost is a big part of the reason. LAMATA says diesel has gone from about ₦950 per litre at the start of 2026 to between ₦1,950 and ₦2,100 now. Running gas and electric buses has helped the authority avoid passing the full increase on to commuters. As of October 3, though, Lagos had not announced a new fare structure, start date or routes under the federal fare-reduction programme. The state says it is still in talks with the Federal Government.
What it means for Lagos commuters: if you use BRT or other LAMATA-regulated routes, the CNG and electric fleet is mainly keeping fares from rising further for now. Don’t expect big cuts on danfo or korope routes yet. Most of those still run on petrol or diesel.
Why Many Commercial Fares Haven’t Moved
The main weakness of the programme is that most Nigerian commuters ride privately run buses, keke and taxis, not government buses. A THISDAY survey across the states published on October 3 found commercial operators in Rivers, Ogun, Benue, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Taraba saying an immediate cut was not realistic.
- Petrol prices: union officials in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi quoted pump prices of ₦1,440–₦1,490 per litre. In Sokoto, the NURTW chairman said fuel takes more than 70% of some drivers’ daily earnings. For a city-by-city view, see our petrol price in Nigeria October 2026 breakdown.
- “We sell as we buy”: the Rivers NURTW chairman linked any fare cut directly to the petrol price.
- Conversion cost: an Abeokuta transporter said converting a bus to CNG costs about ₦1.3 million, while the Kuto Park to Lagos fare stays at ₦6,000.
- Passenger fear: some passengers in Ogun avoid CNG vehicles because they worry about safety.
- Buses not yet delivered: Anambra’s RTEAN chairman said 100 CNG vehicles allocated earlier had not reached the union. Kano’s NURTW said it was still waiting for the promised buses. Niger reportedly received 100 CNG buses, but many were not yet deployed because of road works in Minna.
Benue’s state-owned Benue Links went the other way, announcing what it called a marginal fare increase because of fuel, tyre and spare-parts costs.
Should You Convert Your Car or Bus to CNG Now?
The programme puts CNG back in the spotlight for private motorists and commercial drivers. The savings can be large. Nairametrics, citing Pi-CNG, reported one vehicle owner whose weekly fuel spend fell from about ₦300,000 on petrol to roughly ₦22,000 on CNG. An Abuja commuter told the same outlet his weekly fuel cost fell from ₦50,000–₦60,000 to about ₦15,000.
Before you book a conversion, weigh these realities.
1. CNG conversion cost in Nigeria
Prices vary widely depending on the vehicle, the kit and whether you qualify for a subsidised scheme. Recent reports include:
- Up to about ₦1.1 million for motorists outside government-subsidised schemes (reported September 2026)
- About ₦1.3 million quoted by a transporter in Ogun
- ₦650,000 paid by an Abuja tricycle operator
These are reported figures, not fixed prices. Get a written quote from a Pi-CNG-certified conversion centre and ask whether you qualify for any subsidised or financed conversion.
2. Refuelling access is the deciding factor
Cheap gas is useless if you can’t buy it. Abuja drivers told Nairametrics they wait four to six hours at some stations, and a few said they have gone back to petrol. Before converting, check how many working CNG stations are on your daily route, not just in your city.
3. Safety: use accredited centres only
In September, Pi-CNG & EV reported an Abuja incident in which an unauthorised cylinder exploded during refuelling. Properly installed, certified CNG systems are designed to handle high-pressure gas safely. The risk comes from cheap, uncertified kits and roadside installers. NADDC has also begun validating national training manuals to standardise how CNG and EV technicians are trained and certified, which should help over time.
4. Maintenance changes
Some CNG users report needing to replace spark plugs more often. One Abuja SME owner said every two months. Ask your installer about service intervals and budget for them.
Quick comparison: petrol vs CNG for a commercial driver
- Upfront cost: Petrol, none. CNG, roughly ₦650,000 to ₦1.3 million reported (confirm locally).
- Fuel cost: Petrol, about ₦1,440–₦1,490/litre in some northern states (October 2026 reports). CNG, much lower per km, with reported weekly savings of 70–90%.
- Refuelling: Petrol, everywhere. CNG, limited stations and possibly long queues.
- Passenger perception: Petrol, neutral. CNG, some safety fears, though cheaper fares can win riders.
- Resale and financing: Petrol, standard. CNG, a growing ecosystem, and PCNGi launched a ₦2.5 billion credit scheme in 2025 to support conversions and local kit manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
The October 1 fare cut is real, but only on government-backed CNG and electric bus routes. If a state CNG bus serves your route, you could pay 40–60% less. If you rely on private danfo, keke or taxis, expect little change until petrol prices fall or more operators convert.
Lagos is changing its fleet faster than its fares. No new diesel buses are entering the LAMATA-regulated system, and about 170 CNG buses are now running, but no new fare schedule has been announced.
For drivers, CNG conversion can pay off, but only where gas is easy to get. Use a certified centre, map the stations on your route, and get the full cost in writing.
FAQ
Are transport fares in Nigeria cheaper from October 1, 2026?
Only on some routes. Government-supported CNG and electric buses in states such as Kaduna, Enugu, Oyo, Plateau, Kwara, Ekiti and parts of Abuja charge noticeably lower fares. Most commercial operators have not cut fares.
Has Lagos reduced bus fares under the CNG programme?
Not as of October 3. LAMATA received 20 more CNG buses on September 30 and has stopped accepting new diesel buses, but the state has not announced a new fare structure under the federal programme.
How much does CNG conversion cost in Nigeria?
Reported costs range from about ₦650,000 to ₦1.3 million depending on the vehicle and the scheme. Confirm with a certified conversion centre.
Is CNG safe for cars in Nigeria?
Certified kits installed at accredited centres are designed for high-pressure gas. The recent incidents involved unauthorised cylinders. Avoid uncertified installers.
Attribution: figures in this article come from the Presidency’s September 19, 2026 statement on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, LAMATA, Pi-CNG & EV, NADDC, and reporting by THISDAY, Nairametrics and The Nation.
Disclaimer: Vehicle prices, import duties, fares and specs change frequently in Nigeria. Always confirm current figures with the dealer, operator or official source before buying or converting.
