Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) has begun enforcing the 40 per cent reduction in transport fares by commercial vehicles converted to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Abuja, starting with Area 1 Park.
PCNGI project director, Michael Oluwagbemi, who announced the implementation of the fare reduction programme in Abuja, on Friday, said this was part of federal government’s efforts to ease the burden of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Oluwagbemi, who was represented by the regional CNG Expansion coordinator for the North, David Idakwo, said, “The intention is to as much as possible reduce the price of transportation for the general public. We have worked hand-in-hand with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), we have converted a lot of their vehicles, and based on our agreement, they are to reduce prices for the general public,” Oluwagbemi stated.
We have agreed with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and they have given us the prices, the fare amount from Area 1 to different destinations when they were running on petrol and we have come together, made an analysis and achieved a 40 per cent reduction in the fare, in the transportation from Area 1 to all other destinations Based on their agreement, Oluwagbemi said the new fare structure from Area 1 Park includes: Area 1 to Gwagwalada, which used to cost N1,500 with petrol, was reduced to N900, while Area 1 to Bwari Dutse, which was also N1,500, was reduced to N900.
According to him, Area One to Kuje, which was N1,200, was reduced to N720.
He added that Area One to Galadimawa, which was N500, was reduced to N300.
The PCNGI boss said Area 1 to Mpape, which used to be N1,000, was reduced to N600. Area one to Zuba, according to him, was 1,500, and that was also reduced to N900.
He said Area 1 to Lugbe, which was N700, was reduced to N420, while the Jabi route, which was N720, was reduced to N420.
Area 1 to Wuse, he said, was reduced from N420 to N240 while Area 1 to Nyanya was reduced from N700 to N420.
He also said Area 1 to Kabusa N800 was reduced to N480, while the Apo route was reduced from N500 to N300.
On the modalities to ensure compliance with the new fares, he said there was a task force comprising members of the PCNGI and NURTW in place to enforce compliance with the new price regime.
According to Oluwagbemi, over 50 per cent of vehicles at Area 1 Park have already been converted to CNG, with the conversion process continuing. To ensure compliance with the new fare structure, PCNGI has established a task force comprising union members and PCNGI officials.
“We have a task force in place. We send mystery shoppers into the field to board some of these buses and see if they comply. If they don’t comply, such a driver would be reported to the task force and be disciplined,” Oluwagbemi explained.
He added that CNG stickers and the new prices were on the vehicles for passengers’ information.
Passengers were advised to report defaulting drivers to the task force for sanctions.
He said passengers can report non-compliance through the PCNGI customer service number or directly to park leadership
Oluwagbemi stressed, “If they don’t comply, such a driver will be reported to the task force and be disciplined.”
According to him, the initiative will soon expand to Area 3 and other parks across Abuja before eventually covering the entire country.
He said the PCNGI has also converted over 70 per cent of airport vehicles and is finalising modalities for fare reductions on airport routes.
Speaking on behalf of the union, NURTW Garki Branch secretary, Ibrahim Jibril
Jibril confirmed the union’s support for the initiative, noting that converted vehicles are identifiable by PCNGI stickers and price tags displayed on them.
“Part of our strategies are vehicles that have been converted have a price tag written on them so that passengers going to Gwagwalada or Nyanya will notice that this vehicle is converted and know the price,” Jibril said.
He described the new fare as a fair deal on the part of the drivers because there was much more profit for them despite the price crash.
Asked if the union was in support of the reduction of fair, he said, “Yes, we are in support. If you look at it now, you go to buy fuel, 20,000 Naira. And then you go to buy gas, 4,500 Naira.
“You will use the same volume, the same time to work. At least you are saving almost 75 per cent. So moving 40 per cent out is just even a bonus because you still have an extra 35 per cent to gain as a driver.”
On his part, the PCNGI commercial coordinator, Tosin Coker, said so many vehicles had been converted to CNG.
While acknowledging challenges with CNG infrastructure, Coker noted that there are currently 10 CNG stations across the Federal Capital Territory, with at least two more expected to come online this month.
He said the federal government was working with private sector partners to expand refueling infrastructure nationwide.
The CNG conversion program is part of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to distribute one million free CNG conversion kits to commercial vehicles, aiming to provide relief to Nigerians through reduced transportation costs while promoting cleaner energy alternatives.