By Chibuzor Alli
Nigeria’s push to cut transport fares with Compressed Natural Gas is entering a critical phase, but shortages of refuelling stations, high vehicle conversion costs and long queues are threatening to slow the rollout across several states.
With the Federal Government targeting measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, states are taking different approaches to the CNG initiative. While some have introduced subsidised or free transport services, commercial operators in several others say they are struggling to access enough CNG infrastructure to make the switch from petrol practical.
The uneven rollout is raising questions about how quickly cheaper energy can translate into cheaper fares for commuters, particularly in states where motorists already spend hours waiting to refuel.
President Bola Tinubu, after meeting the 36 state governors on August 27, announced an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
In an update on Saturday, the President urged states to work with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and ensure that savings from cheaper energy were passed on to commuters through lower fares.
The Presidency said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted, with more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country.
But for many transport operators, the central question is not simply whether CNG is cheaper than petrol. It is whether there are enough vehicles, stations and conversion facilities to make that saving accessible.
CNG queues expose infrastructure gap
In Lagos, long queues have continued to be reported at some CNG stations, including the NIPCO facility at Ibafo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
During one visit at about 9:30pm, buses, cars and trucks were seen waiting to buy CNG, with the queue extending towards the highway.
A commercial driver, Saheed, said the shortage of stations was forcing operators to spend hours waiting for the fuel.
“We have been here since 7:30 pm. My bus is just getting close to the pump. The reason for this queue is because we have a few CNG stations along this axis. Some have left to go and buy petrol, but N1,400 is too much for a commercial driver. That’s why you see my buses here,” he said.
For passengers, the delays are becoming another part of the cost of using CNG-powered transport.
“This is why I don’t like boarding CNG buses. Aside from asking to disembark from the bus, they will also delay your journey by staying in the queue,” the commuter said.
Similar queues have been reported around Mowe and Ibafo, as well as at NNPC Ilasamaja and NIPCO Mobil on Ajegunle Road.
The problem is not limited to Lagos.
Conversion costs put drivers off
For commercial operators considering the switch, the initial cost of converting vehicles is another barrier.
A commercial driver, Musa Kazeem, said he had considered converting his vehicle but was discouraged by the cost and the prospect of spending hours at refuelling stations.
“I planned to convert my vehicle last month, but they told me to look for N800,000 or N1m, depending on the size of the cylinders I want. Where will I get that? Another issue is, after doing the conversion, I will have to stay in a long queue for hours to buy the product. It now looks as if the CNG stations inherited the petrol queues we used to have before the Dangote refinery became operational,” he said.
Some motorists also remain concerned about safety.
A middle-aged man, Oladeinde Lekan, said he was worried about the possibility of CNG-related accidents despite government assurances about safety.
Transport industry leaders have also warned that the shortage of refuelling facilities is affecting the productivity of commercial operators.
The National President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, said the queues were costing transporters both time and money.
“The queues in CNG stations are really costing us time, because time is money. And this is because of the non-availability of refilling stations. The stations are not many; therefore, because of those long queues, we lose a lot of time and money,” he said.
Othman, however, said the infrastructure was expanding and that more stations would gradually reduce the queues.
“There are a lot of CNG stations coming up. The government is intervening through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund. That will go a long way in having many stations, and with those many stations, of course, all those queues will reduce. You know, a lot of people are just keying into CNG. They are not used to it, but it’s gradual,” he said.
He said the long-term economics of CNG remained attractive despite the difficulties surrounding its rollout.
“As it is now, CNG is the way to go. It’s clean energy, and it’s cheaper. The only problem is the queue, and when we have more stations, transporters will have no choice. Usually, people are susceptible to change. They don’t accept change easily. But then, this is a change that is coming with gains; because we are going to save a lot of money in the purchase of CNG as against petrol or diesel,” Othman said.
States take different routes
Across the country, the response to the Federal Government’s CNG push varies sharply.
Some states have focused on subsidised or free transport, while others are still trying to establish the infrastructure needed for commercial operators to use CNG at scale.
In Plateau State, for instance, the government has used subsidised buses to provide cheaper transport in Jos.
The Commissioner for Transport, Davou Jatau, said the government bus service charged N200 for journeys covering between 18km and 20km within the city.
“Within a short time, we have a transportation system within the city centre that compares to no other state in Nigeria in terms of rating and affordability. You can quote me anywhere; there is no state in Nigeria that charges only N200 for between 18km and 20km distance coverage,” he said.
Jatau said the programme was not designed to make a profit.
“Since the removal of fuel subsidy, a journey from Zawan Junction in Jos to a place like Terminus cost between N1,000 and N1,400 in a taxi, but you have a government bus that picks you up for just N200. On a return trip, that is just N400,” Jatau said.
But the Chairman of NTA Park, Jos, Alhaji Ibrahim Maikudi, said the Federal Government’s CNG programme had yet to translate into tangible benefits for transport operators in the state.
“They once approached us, took our plate numbers and everything, but nothing has happened. In Plateau State, for instance, there is no station where you have a CNG vehicle that you go and buy CNG in the Plateau completely,” he said.
Maikudi said some CNG buses supplied to the state had been parked because there was no station where they could refuel.
Kaduna shows what subsidised transport can deliver
Kaduna State presents a different picture.
The state government said its free CNG bus service had been operating since July 2025, following the inauguration of 100 CNG buses.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmad Mayaki, said the buses operated on eight routes with about 200 bus stops.
“Kaduna is the only state offering free services in the whole of Nigeria. Other states offer different forms of subsidised costs; some offer 50 per cent, while others offer certain percentages.
“Even the FCT, where the Federal Government is partnering with the NURTW, is not offering it free. Kaduna is the only state providing free services to students, civil servants, traders, artisans and the entire citizens of the state,” he said.
Mayaki said the state government had directed that the service continue indefinitely.
“The government has directed that these free services should continue indefinitely. There is no window, and there is no stopping; it is indefinite,” he said.
The Kaduna example highlights the difference between reducing fares through government-supported transport and relying on private operators to pass lower fuel costs on to passengers.
Northern states face infrastructure challenge
In Gombe State, a transport operator said CNG was useful for town services but that infrastructure remained inadequate for long-distance journeys.
“Gombe now has CNG, which is good for town services, but for long-distance transportation, we don’t have enough infrastructure,” the operator said.
He said inadequate refuelling facilities could turn long-distance journeys into lengthy waits.
“If you want to travel to Abuja and return the following morning, you could spend six, seven or even eight hours in a queue waiting to refuel. So, up to now, we need more infrastructure before CNG becomes more feasible,” he said.
According to him, plans were being made to establish about 30 CNG substations across Gombe State, potentially providing one at each local government headquarters.
He also identified conversion costs as a major obstacle.
“You know the economic situation in Northern Nigeria. How many people can afford between N750,000 and N800,000 to convert their vehicles to CNG?” he asked.
The Managing Director of Gombe State Transport Service, Dr Sani Sabo, agreed that CNG could reduce transportation costs but said infrastructure expansion would take time.
“The policy itself is very good. We have done the analysis, and it can reduce the cost of transportation and fuel. However, it will take time for the infrastructure to cover the necessary locations,” he said.
Jigawa State faces a similar challenge.
An official of the National Association of Transport Owners, Muhd Mudi, said the programme could not work without adequate infrastructure.
“The government is just making promises in Abuja. Where are the CNG stations in Jigawa? Where do you want us to get gas? This policy cannot work without stations and conversion centres.”
In Zamfara State, motorists said the state was yet to get a CNG station.
Commercial driver Aminu Suleiman said the programme could ease the pressure caused by rising petrol prices but questioned the delay.
“This is a welcome development as it will ease the hardship experienced in the country because of fuel price increase,” he said. “I hope it is not a fake promise because we have been hearing about the CNG but we, the people of Zamfara State, have never seen it.”
The Zamfara State Government said plans were underway to establish CNG facilities in Gusau and other parts of the state.
Conversion remains slow in some states
In Kwara State, only about 100 commercial vehicles belonging to members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria had been converted, according to the state chairman, Abdulrasheed Onikijipa.
“The CNG vehicles that have been converted so far among our members in Kwara State are around 100. The reason is that the vehicle owners are running from it because they don’t have belief in it,” he said. “Most of them complain that it damages their vehicles. That is why they don’t key into it as expected.”
Onikijipa also said transport unions had not been adequately consulted.
“There has been no consultation from the government, especially at the state level, with our unions. We are just seeing it on the pages of the newspaper,” he said.
Kwara has two major CNG refuelling stations in Ilorin. A CNG-powered commercial tricycle operator, Abdulmalik Idris, said he had not experienced long queues because relatively few vehicles were using the fuel.
In Borno State, operators cited safety concerns and the cost of gas as factors discouraging some vehicle owners.
A member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers identified as Sani said some drivers remained worried about possible vehicle explosions.
“We have been sensitised about it (CNG conversion), but to be sincere, a good number of us are still scared that it could lead to car explosions,” he said.
Maiduguri, however, already has hundreds of government-owned electric vehicles carrying passengers at fares of between N50 and N100, with charging facilities available within the metropolis.
States prepare for wider rollout
Other states are preparing to expand their alternative-energy transport systems.
In Benue, the government has begun a three-day awareness campaign ahead of CNG adoption. The Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Dr Joseph Ter, said he had converted his official vehicle to CNG to demonstrate support for the programme.
“As soon as we finish the awareness, we are going to swing into action with the conversion. I have already converted my own vehicle to show leadership by example,” he said.
Nasarawa State said it planned to establish CNG bi-fuel conversion centres in each of its three senatorial zones.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, said 50 auto-technicians had been trained on CNG conversion.
“The Nasarawa State government is committed to building conversion centres so that the trained auto-technicians will not only be able to make their own impacts but train other people there. Based on the current needs of our people, we are going to establish these centres, one each in the three senatorial zones,” he said.
Edo State is also preparing to deploy more CNG buses.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, said more than 50 52-seater buses would be launched in October.
“We are also launching our own CNG next month with over 50 52-seater CNG buses. It will be distributed according to commuter strength across the three senatorial districts. Once the passengers have the option of cheaper rates from the CNG, other transporters will be forced to reduce their fares,” he said.
A transport union official in the state, however, said commercial operators still faced high maintenance costs and queues.
“Those buses that also run on gas have to queue for hours or days to buy the product. Those are the factors leading to high fares, and hopefully the government can address them,” the official said.
Kano State said it was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government on CNG-powered mass transit.
The Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Haruna Isah Dederi, said the state would make CNG buses available for interstate and urban mass transit.
“The Kano State government in collaboration with the Federal Government is vigorously pursuing the programme with a view to reducing transport fares,” he said.
The state has also procured 500 electric tricycles and introduced plans for a Rapid Bus Transit programme aimed at reducing fares within the metropolitan area.
In Bayelsa, transport operators said they were willing to adopt CNG but wanted the government to address conversion costs and station availability.
Ebi Patrick said, “We are interested in the CNG programme because fuel is one of the biggest challenges facing transport operators. But converting a vehicle is not something every driver can afford immediately.”
Another operator, Akpagra Michael, said CNG could lower fares if it remained affordable and readily available.
“If CNG is genuinely cheaper than petrol and it is readily available, there is no reason why transport fares should not come down. But the government must also consider other expenses such as spare parts, maintenance, vehicle financing and levies,” he said.
Federal investment grows, but rollout remains uneven
The Federal Government has continued to invest in CNG infrastructure.
In May, President Tinubu commissioned four CNG projects supported by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund in Lagos, Abuja and Owerri.
The government has also introduced financing arrangements aimed at helping motorists and commercial operators spread the cost of vehicle conversion rather than paying the full amount upfront.
The Presidency has pointed to examples from states where CNG and alternative-energy transport have already reduced fares.
According to the State House, Borno has CNG and electric transport services charging between N50 and N100 on routes where commercial operators charge N300 to N600.
CNG buses in Oyo initially reduced the Lagos-Ibadan fare from about N8,000 to N3,200, while Adamawa recorded fare reductions of up to 50 per cent. Enugu also reduced the Enugu-Nsukka fare from N2,500 to N1,500.
These examples show the potential for cheaper energy to reduce transport costs. But experiences from commercial operators across the country indicate that lower fuel prices alone may not immediately produce lower fares.
For operators, the cost of vehicle conversion, access to refuelling stations, queues, spare parts, maintenance, financing and road conditions all affect the cost of running commercial vehicles.
The October 1 test
With October 1 approaching, the CNG rollout is moving into a crucial stage.
The Federal Government wants states to accelerate implementation and ensure that lower energy costs translate into lower fares. But transport operators say they need the infrastructure to make that possible.
The difference is already clear across the country.
In places where governments have deployed subsidised or free buses, commuters can access significantly cheaper transport. In states where CNG infrastructure remains limited, however, petrol continues to dominate commercial transportation.
The challenge is therefore moving beyond isolated examples of subsidised transport to a sufficiently broad CNG network that can support private commercial operators on urban and inter-state routes.
For commuters, the promise of cheaper transport now depends on what happens between the conversion workshop and the bus stop: whether enough vehicles can be converted, whether drivers can find CNG without spending hours in queues, and whether the savings are ultimately passed on to passengers.
As Othman put it, “The only problem is the queue.”
But across the states, the evidence points to a wider challenge: building enough infrastructure, making conversion affordable, ensuring reliable access to CNG and turning the savings from cheaper fuel into genuinely cheaper journeys for Nigerians.
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