The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the decision by the 36 state governors to invest in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure as a major boost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reduce transportation costs in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, the group said the governors’ decision demonstrated growing readiness by the states to collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling the rising cost of transportation.
TDF recalled that President Tinubu launched the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) in August 2023, shortly after the removal of petroleum subsidy, as part of measures to cushion the impact of higher energy and transportation costs on Nigerians.
According to the group, the President has remained committed to expanding CNG infrastructure across the country despite the challenges associated with establishing the system.
It said the initiative had so far resulted in the construction of 90 certified CNG filling stations, establishment of more than 450 CNG conversion centres across 23 states and the conversion of over 120,000 vehicles, with an additional 100,000 conversion kits currently deployed across Nigeria.
The group noted that commercial transport operators in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Enugu, had increasingly adopted CNG as a cheaper alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
TDF also said a significant number of heavy-duty interstate commercial transporters previously dependent on Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, had begun switching to CNG because of its lower energy cost.
It described the development as evidence that the Federal Government’s CNG policy was gradually transforming the transportation sector while providing Nigerians with an alternative energy source following the removal of subsidy.
“Although the rate of CNG penetration in the country is currently slow, we believe that the recent resolution by the 36 State Governors to invest massively in establishing CNG infrastructure to power transportation in their respective states will boost the rate of migration from PMS to CNG,” the group said.
TDF said the governors’ decision had also reinforced the argument that reducing transportation costs required investment in cheaper and sustainable energy sources rather than a return to the previous petroleum subsidy regime.
The group criticised calls for the reintroduction of fuel subsidy, arguing that Nigeria should instead accelerate the development of CNG and electric vehicles as alternatives for public transportation.
It welcomed the establishment of an implementation committee to coordinate Federal and state government measures aimed at reducing transportation costs, beginning from October 1, 2026.
According to TDF, the initiative would help Nigerians reduce spending on inter- and intra-state transportation while also lowering the cost of moving agricultural produce from farms to markets.
The group further argued that the slow adoption of CNG in Nigeria was largely attributable to the failure of successive administrations to invest adequately in the necessary infrastructure.
It urged Nigerians to support the CNG initiative, saying wider access to cheaper and sustainable energy would ultimately ease transportation costs and contribute to economic growth.
