The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is exploring a nationwide initiative to reduce public transport fares through the adoption of compressed natural gas (CNG) under the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP).

The initiative is expected to take advantage of the lower operating costs of CNG to make public transportation more affordable for Nigerians amid rising living costs.

According to a communiqué issued after the governors’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday and signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the NGF, states would play a key role in driving the programme.

Under the proposed arrangement, state governments would support the conversion of commercial vehicles to CNG, provide transport fleets and facilitate the development of relevant infrastructure.

In return, participating transport operators would be expected to commit to reducing passenger fares.

The NGF did not announce a take-off date for the programme, noting that discussions were still ongoing to finalise its financing and implementation framework.

Speaking after the meeting, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri said the initiative was part of the forum’s response to the rising cost of transportation, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Diri said cheaper transportation could also help drive down the prices of goods and services, given the significant role transportation plays in moving food, raw materials and other commodities across the country.

“Transportation is key,” he said.

The governor explained that the cost of transporting goods from one location to another is ultimately passed on to consumers, stressing that reducing transport costs through CNG adoption could have a “multiplier effect” across different sectors of the economy.

He added that the relatively lower cost of gas compared with petrol could make CNG a viable option for reducing the operating expenses of commercial transport operators.

Diri said the governors were focused on developing practical measures to cushion Nigerians from the effects of subsidy removal rather than returning to a system that had placed heavy financial pressure on the government.

“The impact is expected to be on our people—the very common man that we all talk about,” he said.

The Bayelsa governor also dismissed claims that state governments had failed to account for funds accruing to them following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

“That cannot be true. But we will leave that debate for another day,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NGF received a presentation from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, on opportunities for states to participate in CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, both of which are scheduled to take place in Lagos.