President Bola Tinubu has ordered the deployment of 500 more compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations across the country, doubling the target under the Presidential CNG Initiative to 1,000 stations.
The President made this known after meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Thursday, in a statement he personally signed and shared on his X handle.
According to Tinubu, the governors “have, on their own initiative, resolved to take immediate measures to bring down the cost of transportation in their states, with a strong focus on leveraging the cost benefits of CNG and electric vehicles.”
He noted that the Federal Government was already committing substantial resources to the energy transition drive, with ongoing work to expand conversion centres and refuelling facilities across the country.
“The Federal Government is already investing significantly in this energy transition. Through the Presidential CNG Initiative, over 120,000 vehicles have been converted nationwide, with more than 100,000 additional conversion kits in the works. At the same time, we continue to expand conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure nationwide,” he said.
Tinubu explained that through the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, the Federal Government is currently funding over 100 gas-related projects nationwide, comprising 15 CNG mother stations and 86 daughter stations.
He recalled that four of these projects were unveiled in May in Lagos, Abuja and Owerri — among them a 15-station refuelling network in Lagos and an Abuja facility with capacity to serve 1,000 cars and tricycles, plus 50 trucks and buses, daily.
“I have also directed the additional rollout of another 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide in addition to the 500 stations ordered earlier in the year by the Fund, bringing the programme to 1,000 stations across the country,” he stated.
He said the expansion would be especially beneficial for intra-state transport, where Nigerians bear the brunt of high costs most directly.
“I am encouraged that our Governors are moving to bring these benefits closer to the people they serve,” he added.
The President disclosed that the Federal and state governments had agreed to set up a joint committee to immediately begin implementing measures aimed at cutting transport costs.
He added: “A vehicle running on CNG spends 60 to 80 per cent less on fuel than one running on petrol.
“From October 1, our goal is that Nigerians begin to partake in those savings through lower transport fares. We have agreed that cheaper fuel should result in cheaper fares!
“Each tier of government must keep doing its part and work together for the benefit of every Nigerian.”
