President Bola Tinubu has admitted that the removal of petrol subsidy has brought significant hardship to Nigerian households, assuring that his administration is taking concrete steps to reduce transportation costs through affordable alternatives.
Tinubu made the acknowledgement in a statement shared on his verified X handle on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
According to the President, while the subsidy removal was a necessary economic reform, it came with a responsibility to cushion its effects on citizens, especially in the area of transportation which directly affects the cost of living.
“The decision to remove the fuel subsidy came with the responsibility to provide practical measures to reduce transportation expenses, particularly for Nigerians who continue to face difficulties accessing affordable transport,” Tinubu stated.
FG Expands CNG Programme With States
The President disclosed that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governments and private sector investors to scale up the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme.
The programme, implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, aims to deploy buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles across the country.
Tinubu revealed that several states have already benefited from the scheme:
– Ekiti State – 15 CNG buses delivered
– Lagos State – 20 CNG buses delivered
– Akwa Ibom State – 50 buses prepared for service
– Katsina State – 30 CNG buses, 200 electric tricycles and 5 e-buses received
He explained that CNG is significantly cheaper than petrol and diesel, and will help transport operators lower their operational costs, with the expectation that the savings will translate into reduced fares for commuters.
Fares Still High For Many Commuters
Despite the federal intervention, checks across some states show that transport fares remain high, with commuters lamenting that the relief is yet to reach many routes.
The Federal Government says additional buses are being prepared for deployment, while CNG refuelling infrastructure is being expanded nationwide to ensure sustainability of the initiative.
The Presidency had earlier claimed that fares on some CNG-powered routes have dropped by up to 67%, though the coverage remains limited.
