FG begins enforcement of 40% fare deduction on CNG-converted commercial vehicles in Abuja

The presidential compressed natural gas initiative (P-CNGi) has commenced the implementation of a 40 per cent transport fare deduction for commercial vehicles converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) model. The initiative, which began on Friday at the Area 1 Motor Park in Garki, Abuja, in conjunction with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), will be effective immediately.

According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Programme Director of P-CNGi, Micheal Oluwagbemi, who was represented by David Idakwo, the regional CNG expansion coordinator for the north, the initiative follows President Tinubu’s directive on making transportation more affordable for Nigerians amid a depressing economic condition. He noted that NURTW members who have converted their vehicles to CNG will implement the fare reduction.

“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,” he said.

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The P-CNGi CEO added that the committee and NURTW analysed the transport fares charged from Area 1 (in Abuja) to various destinations running with petrol and decided to introduce a 40 per cent reduction in fares based on the analytics.

As revealed, the new prices from Area 1 to various destinations are as follows:

• Area 1 to Gwagwalada: reduced from N1,500 to N900.
• Area 1 to Bwari/Dutse: reduced from N1,500 to N900.  
• Area 1 to Kuje: reduced from N1,200 to N720.
• Area 1 to Galadimawa: reduced from N500 to N300.
• Area 1 to Mpape: reduced from N1,000 to N600 
• Area 1 to Zuba: reduced from N1,500 to N900.
• Area 1 to Lugbe: reduced from N700 to N420
• Area 1 to Jabi: reduced from N700 to N420
• Area 1 to Wuse: reduced from N400 to N240
• Area 1 to Nyanya: reduced from N700 to N420.
• Area 1 to Kabusa: reduced from N800 to N480
• Area 1 to Apo: reduced from N500 to N300.

The initiative further underscores the adoption of the CNG model in commercial vehicles amid the flexible shift in fuel prices, which has always influenced the hike in transport fares. It also represents a significant palliative step to lessen the inflationary burden on Nigerians, which has lowered their purchasing power.

Efforts to create more CNG converted vehicles 

As part of the ongoing effort to increase the number of CNG vehicles, Oluwagbemi explained that additional vehicles are undergoing conversion and that the project will extend to other parks across the nation’s capital and other states. 

He also pointed out that over 50 per cent of NURTW’s registered commercial vehicles have been converted at present while special attention would be directed to airport shuttle operators going forward who are expected to roll out new fare rates soon. For identification, Oluwagbemi stressed that all converted vehicles will carry a P-CNGi sticker for ease while a joint task force has been deployed to ensure compliance.

“Passengers are encouraged to report violations through P-CNGi’s hotline (07000000264) or by email via info@pci.gov.ng,” he added.

While commending the federal government on the initiative, Secretary of the NURTW Garki branch, Ibrahim Jubril noted that the union is fully committed to enforcing compliance among its members and protecting passengers’ interests. By this, vehicles that have undergone conversion will have fare tags, allowing passengers to identify them easily.

The Federal Government has been on the Compressed Natural Gas conversion wave for a while. Last October, it launched a CNG conversion e-portal for youths in the commercial transport sector interested in using CNG-powered tricycles. There, the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, revealed plans to distribute 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to empower Nigerian Youths.

He emphasised that the initiative represents a fulfillment to empower youths and reduce the cost of living through creating jobs, promoting the utilization of clean fuel, and bringing about holistic economic well-being.

The presidential compressed natural gas director explained that CNG is the future of the nation while the initiative is a pledge to have a greener environment and a cost-efficient medium.

“Indeed, CNG is the future of Nigeria, just as the youth are the future of this nation. By embracing CNG, we are building a cleaner environment for our nation as we move away from PMS and Diesel. We are also saving the nation in terms of the cost that is typically spent on subsidies on petrol and bankrupting the country for so long now,” he said in October.