President Bola Tinubu has ordered vehicle and truck operators benefiting from cheaper Compressed Natural Gas to pass the savings down to ordinary Nigerians instead of keeping the entire benefit for themselves.
The President gave the warning on Thursday when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu said the financial advantage created by the switch to CNG was not spreading to commuters as quickly as it should.
He specifically urged drivers and transport operators to ensure that passengers also feel the impact of cheaper fuel.
According to the President, transport operators should not simply pocket the savings created by CNG while commuters continue to pay high fares.
The call comes amid continued pressure on Nigerians over the high cost of transportation, with fuel prices and vehicle operating costs remaining major factors in determining fares.
Tinubu told the NUPENG delegation that his administration would continue to encourage the adoption of CNG, but insisted that the benefits must go beyond vehicle owners and operators.
He said the savings should “trickle to the commuters too”, stressing that the benefit was currently going into the pockets of truck owners more than he would like.
The President’s position effectively puts transport operators on notice that cheaper CNG should translate into cheaper movement for Nigerians.
Tinubu also linked the issue of transportation costs to his administration’s wider economic reforms, saying the removal of fuel subsidy and other measures were aimed at creating a more sustainable economy.
He pointed to major road projects across the country, including the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna and Abuja-Kano roads, as evidence of the impact of the reforms.
NUPENG President Salimon Oladiti, who led the delegation, also commended the Federal Government’s road rehabilitation programme.
He said improved roads were particularly important to tanker drivers, whose jobs expose them to serious risks on Nigeria’s highways.
Oladiti described good roads as a matter of life and death for tanker drivers, noting that rehabilitation of federal highways had made journeys safer for union members.
The union also highlighted major projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
With the President now demanding that CNG savings reach commuters, attention is likely to shift to transport operators and whether the cheaper fuel will actually result in lower fares for passengers.
For millions of Nigerians battling rising transportation costs, the big question is simple: Will CNG finally make the journey to the passenger’s pocket?
Don’t Miss Out! Join our WhatsApp Channel for instant news updates. Click here to join
ALSO READ:
‘Tinubu Approved It!’ ADC Points Finger At President Over Fadahunsi Storm
2027 PRESIDENCY: Fresh Suit Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification Over Certificates
