The Federal Government has begun enforcing a 40% reduction in transport fares for commercial vehicles converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) in Abuja, aiming to make public transportation more affordable amid rising living costs.
The initiative, launched Friday at Area 1 Motor Park in Garki, is a collaboration between the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The fare reduction applies immediately to all NURTW vehicles that have switched to CNG, which are marked with official P-CNGi stickers for easy identification.
“Our goal is to ease the financial burden on Nigerians by making public transport more affordable. We’ve partnered with NURTW, converted a large number of their vehicles, and agreed that fare reductions will follow as a direct benefit to commuters.”- said David Idakwo, regional CNG expansion coordinator, who represented P-CNGi CEO Micheal Oluwagbemi at the launch
Passengers will now pay N900 instead of N1,500 from Area 1 to Gwagwalada, and N720 instead of N1,200 to Kuje. Other routes, such as Area 1 to Wuse, have dropped from N400 to N240, and Area 1 to Apo from N500 to N300.
The fare cut comes as more than half of NURTW’s Abuja fleet has already switched to CNG, with further conversions and enforcement planned across the city and other states. Special attention is being given to airport shuttle operators, who are expected to announce new rates soon.
To ensure compliance, a joint task force is monitoring the scheme, and passengers are encouraged to report violations via the P-CNGi hotline or email. Vehicles with reduced fares will display clear fare tags.
The government’s push for CNG adoption is part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on petrol, lower transportation costs, and promote cleaner energy. Officials say the move will also help create jobs and support economic well-being for Nigerians.
“We are building a cleaner environment for our nation as we move away from petrol and diesel,” Oluwagbemi said, highlighting the long-term benefits of the initiative.
The fare reduction is expected to provide immediate relief for commuters, while supporting the government’s commitment to sustainable and affordable transportation.
