Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is considering a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing transportation fares through the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Gatekeepers News reports that the proposal, known as the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP), was discussed at the NGF’s third meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the programme is designed to take advantage of the lower operating costs of CNG to provide cheaper public transportation for Nigerians.
Under the proposed arrangement, state governments would support the conversion of vehicles to CNG, provide or support CNG-powered transport fleets and facilitate the development of infrastructure needed for the programme.
In return, participating transport operators would be expected to commit to reducing fares paid by passengers.
The governors, however, have not announced a commencement date for the initiative. They said further consideration was needed on its financing and implementation framework before it could be rolled out.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri said the initiative was aimed at cushioning the effect of high transportation costs on Nigerians, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Diri explained that cheaper transportation could also help reduce the prices of food and other essential commodities because the cost of moving goods is eventually reflected in what consumers pay.
He said the use of CNG, which is cheaper than petrol, could therefore have a “multiplier effect” across different sectors of the economy.
The governor stressed that the ultimate objective was to ensure that the benefits of lower operating costs reach ordinary Nigerians rather than simply reducing expenses for transport operators.
The proposal comes as state governments continue to explore measures to ease the impact of high transportation costs and the wider cost-of-living crisis.
Meanwhile, NGF also received a presentation from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, on opportunities for states to participate in CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, both scheduled to hold in Lagos.
