Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is helping some commercial transport operators reduce their daily fuel expenses in Lagos.
Alhaji Abiola Azeez, a State Executive Council member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said CNG can cut tricycle fuel costs from as much as N17,000 to about N4,000 per day.
Azeez made the remarks during a safety monitoring exercise in Lagos on Saturday. He also serves as the Zonal Chairman of Zone C of the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).
According to him, tricycle operators using petrol could spend between N15,000 and N17,000 daily on fuel. However, those using CNG may spend between N3,500 and N4,000.
He described the difference as significant for operators dealing with rising business expenses.
CNG offers relief for transport operators
Azeez praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for promoting CNG as an alternative to petrol.
He said the deployment of CNG-powered buses and tricycles has helped expand access to the alternative fuel.
Some commercial transport operators have also received CNG conversion installations at no cost, he said.
Azeez added that expanding CNG infrastructure would make the fuel easier for more operators to access.
For many transport workers, lower fuel expenses could improve daily earnings. It could also reduce the financial pressure caused by high operating costs.
He also praised the Federal Government for ongoing road rehabilitation across the country.
According to him, better roads and lower fuel expenses could provide further relief for both transport operators and commuters.
Union begins vehicle safety checks
Beyond fuel costs, the transport union has introduced a quarterly safety monitoring exercise across Lagos.
The programme will cover commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles operating across the state.
Union representatives will visit motor parks every three months to inspect vehicles. They will also identify vehicles that require repairs or maintenance.
Azeez said the union would provide selected maintenance items to operators whose vehicles need them.
These items include tyres, mirrors, wipers and engine oil.
The initiative aims to reduce avoidable road crashes caused by poor vehicle maintenance.
Azeez placed particular emphasis on braking systems. He warned that poorly maintained brakes could result in brake failure, serious accidents and loss of lives.
He urged operators to take vehicle maintenance seriously and address safety problems before putting their vehicles back on the road.
Operators urged to obey traffic rules
Azeez also called on commercial transport operators to comply with Lagos State traffic regulations.
He urged them to cooperate with government agencies responsible for road safety and transport regulation.
According to him, keeping commercial vehicles roadworthy is a shared responsibility.
He said operators, unions and government agencies must work together to improve safety on Lagos roads.
Azeez also commended investments in Lagos transportation infrastructure.
He specifically mentioned the Blue, Green and Red Line rail projects.
He said continued investment in public transportation would benefit residents and commercial transport operators.
Political support for Tinubu
During the exercise, Azeez also called on beneficiaries of government programmes to support President Tinubu and Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat in the 2027 elections.
He urged beneficiaries to mobilise their families, friends and associates ahead of the polls.
Azeez said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had performed well at both the federal and state levels.
He therefore called for continued support for the party.
For transport operators, however, the immediate focus remains the cost of running their businesses.
With petrol prices putting pressure on daily earnings, CNG could offer an alternative for operators able to access the required infrastructure.
The reported reduction from up to N17,000 in petrol costs to about N4,000 on CNG highlights the potential financial impact of the fuel switch.
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