…Queues, Conversion Costs, Infrastructure Gaps Threaten Timetable
As the Federal Government moves to deliver measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1, states are adopting different approaches to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, with some already operating subsidised transport services while commercial operators in several others complain about inadequate refuelling infrastructure, high conversion costs, and long queues at existing stations.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the uneven rollout has raised questions about the ability of transport operators and state governments to deliver cheaper fares across the country within the timeline set by President Bola Tinubu.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the President, after meeting the 36 state governors on August 27, announced an implementation committee for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. In an update on Saturday, Tinubu urged states to work with transport unions and commercial operators, support vehicle conversion and fleet deployment, and ensure that savings from cheaper energy were passed on to commuters through lower fares. The Presidency said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations across the country.
But while the Federal Government says the infrastructure is expanding, transport operators in some states say the available facilities remain inadequate to support widespread conversion. In Lagos, CNG queues have continued to be reported at some filling stations, including the NIPCO facility at Ibafo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. A commercial driver, Saheed, said the scarcity of stations was forcing operators to spend hours waiting for the product. “We have been here since 7:30 pm. My bus is just getting close to the pump. The reason for this queue is because we have a few CNG stations along this axis,” he said.
The National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) National President, Yusuf Othman, said the queues were costing operators valuable time. “The queues in CNG stations are really costing us time, because time is money. And this is because of the non-availability of refilling stations,” he said. He, however, said more stations were being developed and that increased infrastructure would gradually reduce the queues.
The situation across states shows the contrast between existing subsidised transport schemes and the slower adoption of CNG by private commercial operators. In Plateau State, the government said it was already providing one of the cheapest city transport services in the country, charging N200 for journeys covering between 18km and 20km within Jos. However, the Chairman of NTA Park, Jos, Alhaji Ibrahim Maikudi, said the Federal Government’s CNG programme had not translated into tangible benefits for transport operators in Plateau, noting that some CNG buses supplied to the state were parked because there was no station where they could refuel.
In Kaduna State, the CNG programme has already become part of the state’s mass transit system. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmad Mayaki, said the state’s free CNG bus service had been operating since July 2025, after the inauguration of 100 CNG buses, operating on eight routes with about 200 bus stops. “Kaduna is the only state offering free services in the whole of Nigeria,” he said.
In Gombe State, a transport operator said the infrastructure remained inadequate, particularly for long-distance journeys. “If you want to travel to Abuja and return the following morning, you could spend six, seven or even eight hours in a queue waiting to refuel. So, up to now, we need more infrastructure before CNG becomes more feasible,” he said. He also identified conversion costs as another major barrier, asking, “How many people can afford between N750,000 and N800,000 to convert their vehicles to CNG?”
In Jigawa State, commercial drivers and transport owners said the Federal Government’s target would be difficult to achieve without stations and conversion centres. An official of the National Association of Transport Owners, Muhd Mudi, said, “The government is just making promises in Abuja. Where are the CNG stations in Jigawa? Where do you want us to get gas? This policy cannot work without stations and conversion centres.” Zamfara State faces a similar infrastructure gap, with motorists saying the state is yet to get a CNG station.
In Kwara, the level of vehicle conversion also remains low. The Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria in the state, Abdulrasheed Onikijipa, said only about 100 commercial vehicles belonging to union members had been converted. “Most of them complain that it damages their vehicles. That is why they don’t key into it as expected,” he said, adding that transport unions had not been adequately consulted.
In Borno State, transport operators said safety concerns and the cost of gas were discouraging some vehicle owners from embracing CNG. However, Maiduguri already has hundreds of government-owned electric vehicles conveying passengers at fares of between N50 and N100, with charging facilities available within the metropolis.
In Benue, the government said it was preparing the ground for CNG adoption through a three-day awareness campaign. The Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Dr Joseph Ter, said he had converted his official vehicle to CNG to demonstrate support for the programme. Nasarawa State said it was planning to establish CNG bi-fuel conversion centres in each of its three senatorial zones, with 50 auto-technicians already trained on CNG conversion.
Edo State is also preparing to deploy more CNG buses, with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, saying more than 50 52-seater buses would be launched in October. Kano State said it was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government on CNG-powered mass transit, with the Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Haruna Isah Dederi, saying the state would make CNG buses available for interstate and urban mass transit.
In Bayelsa, transport operators said they were willing to adopt CNG but wanted the government to address the cost of conversion and availability of stations. In Ogun State, the government said it was engaging stakeholders on the implementation of the CNG initiative while also working on electric vehicles. In Rivers State, the government said it would return palliative buses to the roads from October, with additional buses expected to transport civil servants and other commuters free of charge.
The Federal Government has continued to invest in CNG infrastructure. In May, President Tinubu commissioned four CNG projects supported by the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund in Lagos, Abuja, and Owerri. The government has also introduced financing arrangements aimed at helping motorists and commercial operators spread the cost of vehicle conversion rather than paying the full amount upfront.
The President has pointed to examples from states where CNG and alternative-energy transport have already reduced fares, including Borno, Oyo, Adamawa, and Enugu. However, reports from commercial operators across the country show that lower fuel prices alone may not immediately translate into lower fares, as the cost of vehicle conversion, access to refuelling stations, queues, spare parts, maintenance, financing, and road conditions all influence the cost of running commercial vehicles.
With October 1 approaching, the rollout is entering a critical phase. The Federal Government says infrastructure is expanding and has urged states to accelerate implementation, while transport operators demand that stations and conversion facilities be available before they can pass CNG savings on to passengers. As Othman put it, “The only problem is the queue.” But across many states, the reports suggest that the challenge is broader: getting enough vehicles converted, ensuring reliable access to CNG, and making sure the savings eventually reach commuters through lower fares.
Source verification: Original reporting based on The PUNCH’s nationwide survey, including interviews with commercial operators, transport union leaders, and state officials across Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kwara, Borno, Benue, Nasarawa, Edo, Kano, Bayelsa, Ogun, and Rivers states.
Editorial Policy: CDA News Nigeria is committed to accurate and balanced reporting on governance and economic matters.
All rights reserved ©2026 CDA News Nigeria. Contact: info@cdanews.ng, www.cdanews.ng, +2348030980314 | 348 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
