Ekiti State has commenced the rollout of 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses, a move designed to reduce public transport fares by 50 per cent. The initiative aims to provide immediate financial relief to commuters facing the rising cost of living and transport within the state.
The deployment of the new fleet is expected to lower the cost of daily movement, addressing the inflationary pressures caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy. By utilising CNG technology, the state government seeks to lower operational costs for transport providers, a saving that will be passed on to the public.
Government officials stated that the provision of these buses would contribute significantly to reducing the burden of transportation on the people. The rollout of the 15 CNG buses in Ekiti follows a period of rising fuel prices that has strained the budgets of many households.
Economic impact of CNG adoption in Ekiti
The shift toward Compressed Natural Gas is part of a wider movement across Nigeria to mitigate the economic shocks of fuel price volatility. As petrol prices continue to fluctuate, several state governments have begun exploring CNG as a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for public transportation systems. This transition is also viewed as an environmental move, as the fuel burns cleaner than traditional petrol, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of the state’s transport sector.
For the average resident, the intended 50 per cent reduction in fares represents a direct boost to disposable income. With transport costs being a major component of household expenditure, the lower fares could allow families to reallocate funds toward essential services such as healthcare and education.
While the current rollout involves 15 buses, the long-term effectiveness of the programme will depend on the expansion of CNG refuelling infrastructure. For the state to maintain these reduced rates, a reliable supply of natural gas must be accessible to the new fleet across all major routes.
The state government is expected to monitor the implementation of the new fare structure to ensure that the cost benefits are effectively felt by the commuting public.
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