President Bola Tinubu has commended Kaduna State's free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mass transit scheme, describing it as a model of practical intervention expected from state governments to alleviate the economic burden on Nigerians. The scheme operates a fleet of 100 CNG-powered buses and has recorded about 3.2 million passenger trips, saving commuters over N3.5 billion in its first year. Tinubu made the commendation in a post on his official X account, praising the intervention as an example of how the transition to cheaper domestic energy could translate into tangible relief for citizens.
The Kaduna State free CNG transit scheme has been hailed as one of the administration's most significant responses to the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal. Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to people-centred governance. The governor highlighted the scale of the free transport programme, describing it as one of the administration's most impactful interventions in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The scheme is part of the state government's broader response to economic pressures facing households following the removal of petrol subsidies. By providing free rides on designated CNG-powered buses, the programme has reduced transportation expenses for workers, traders, students, and other residents who depend on public transport for their daily activities. The reported N3.5 billion in savings represents money retained by commuters and households at a time when rising transportation and living costs have placed additional pressure on disposable incomes.
President Tinubu's recognition has placed Kaduna's experience within the Federal Government's wider effort to expand the use of CNG as a cheaper and domestically available alternative to petrol and diesel. The Federal Government and the 36 state governments are working to expand the national affordable CNG transit programme and reduce transportation costs across the country. At a meeting with governors on August 27, President Tinubu and the state chief executives agreed on the need for coordinated action to deliver significant reductions in commuting costs.
An implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors' Forum, with Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, appointed to lead the committee. The committee is expected to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions for different locations, and establish an operational framework for implementation. The push for CNG-powered transportation has gained added urgency amid disruptions in global energy supplies, which have placed renewed pressures on petrol and diesel prices and contributed to rising transportation costs.
The Tinubu administration has maintained that Nigeria's abundant natural gas resources provide an opportunity to reduce the country's exposure to imported fuel costs and international energy price shocks. President Tinubu has ruled out a return to the former petrol subsidy regime, arguing that it placed a heavy burden on public finances and exposed the economy to fluctuations in international oil prices. Instead, the Federal Government said it would support states that adopt CNG transportation and other interventions capable of delivering measurable relief to citizens.
The presidential commendation represents both recognition of the programme's reported impact and a renewed call to sustain interventions aimed at reducing the economic burden on citizens. As Nigeria's national CNG programme expands, the Kaduna experience is likely to remain part of the conversation on how state governments can translate national energy and economic policies into practical relief for citizens at the grassroots. Kaduna State continues to set national benchmarks in critical areas, ranging from tackling the challenge of out-of-school children and expanding vocational training and skills development to pioneering the CNG mass transit.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu commends Kaduna State's free CNG transit scheme as a model for state governments.
- The scheme has recorded 3.2 million passenger trips and saved commuters over N3.5 billion in its first year.
- The Federal Government is working to expand the national affordable CNG transit programme to reduce transportation costs across the country.
