The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) has announced that transportation fares are expected to reduce nationwide beginning from Oct. 1. This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting to review their readiness and progress in implementing affordable CNG and electric vehicles transportation, in Abuja. The meeting aimed to address infrastructure gaps in states where CNG and electric vehicles were already available.
Several states have made progress towards meeting the Federal Government’s target through the deployment of CNG and electric mobility solutions. Niger State, for instance, has procured 200 CNG buses, with 35 already operational, alongside 11 electric vehicle charging stations. Abia had deployed 40 electric buses and 20 charging stations, with plans to increase its fleet to 100 buses by December.
Other states have also made significant progress in deploying CNG and electric vehicles. Ogun has acquired 1,500 electric motorcycles and operates more than 20 battery-swapping stations. Cross River has deployed 720 electric vehicles, including buses and motorcycles, while Delta has 13 operational conversion centres and four CNG stations, with 50 CNG buses expected to be deployed in the state.
The Executive Chairman, Pi-CNG & EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, said the engagement focused on addressing infrastructure gaps in states where CNG and electric vehicles were already available. He stated that additional refuelling, charging and conversion facilities were required to meet the Oct. 1 target. States agreed to identify their busiest transport corridors and provide relevant data to guide the deployment of additional CNG infrastructure.
Each state is expected to establish an implementation team comprising officials from the transport, energy and related sectors to work directly with Pi-CNG & EV. The initiative would assign coordinators to facilitate implementation and monitor progress at the state level. Private-sector participation will also be prioritised, with investment promotion agencies expected to work towards a common framework for attracting investments into CNG and EV infrastructure.
The Federal and state governments are working to make affordable public transportation available to more Nigerians. The Stakeholders Engagement, convened by Pi-CNG & EV, brought together representatives of state governments, including commissioners of transport in various states. The engagement aimed to ensure that the lower operating costs of CNG and electric mobility translate into actual savings for commuters.
The implementation of CNG and electric vehicles is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and the economy. With the reduction in transportation fares, commuters are expected to save money, while the government aims to increase access to affordable public transportation. The Pi-CNG & EV initiative is a step towards achieving a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation system in Nigeria.
Key points
- Transportation fares are expected to reduce nationwide beginning from Oct. 1.
- Several states have made progress in deploying CNG and electric vehicles.
- The Federal and state governments are working to make affordable public transportation available to more Nigerians.
