Tinubu to governors: Emulate Uba Sani in mass transportation system

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Kaduna State Government’s free mass transit system of compressed natural gas (CNG), describing it as an example of people-centred intervention.

The President also noted that such interventions are required of subnational governments, to reduce transportation costs and ease pressure on families.

In a post on his official

According to the president, the Kaduna state initiative ”is more than what we need to see at the subnational level”.

The presidential praise came amid renewed efforts by the federal government and the 36 states to accelerate the National Affordable CNG Transit Program to achieve measurable reductions in transportation costs across the country.

It will be recalled that the President met with Governors on August 27, where a coordinated action was decided to ensure that Nigerians begin to experience substantial relief in their daily commuting expenses from October 1.

An implementation committee was subsequently constituted under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, with the governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, appointed to lead it.

The committee worked with the Presidential Initiative on CNH and Electric Vehicles, state governments, and other critical stakeholders to identify priority transportation corridors, determine appropriate interventions, and establish the operational framework necessary for effective implementation.

The urgency of the initiative has been heightened by disruptions in global energy supplies, which have put new pressure on petrol and diesel prices, driving up transportation costs around the world.

The federal government has noted that Nigeria cannot insulate itself from disruptions in international energy markets, arguing that the country’s abundant gas resources offer a credible path to reduce its vulnerability.

The President has consistently reiterated that a return to the costly oil subsidy regime would once again expose the Nigerian economy to fluctuations in international oil prices and consume resources needed for development.

The Federal Government intends, however, to support states that have embraced methane transport and help them expand interventions capable of providing immediate and measurable benefits to citizens.

By accepting this support, the Kaduna state government pioneered a program built around a fleet of 100 methane-powered buses, which recorded approximately 3.2 million passenger trips.

According to reports, this support saved commuters more than ₦3.5 billion during its first year of operation, making it one of the government’s most notable responses to the removal of fuel subsidies.

Responding to the President’s commendation, Governor Uba Sani expressed Kaduna State’s deep appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to support policies that protect vulnerable families, expand access to essential services and place citizens at the center of governance.

“We deeply appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this recognition and his administration’s continued support to subnational governments in providing meaningful interventions to our people.

“Kaduna State continues to set national benchmarks in critical areas; from addressing the challenge of out-of-school children to expanding vocational training and skills development to pioneering CNG mass transit.

“Kaduna remains the only sub-national government to provide FREE CNG public transport rides to its citizens. With approximately 3.2 million passenger trips and over ₦3.5 billion saved by commuters in the first year alone, the program has become one of our most impactful interventions in mitigating the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies.

“Our commitment remains clear: to put people first, reduce the burden on vulnerable families and ensure that the dividends of governance reach ordinary citizens,” said Governor Uba Sani.

Kaduna’s methane-fueled free mass transit scheme reflects the broader philosophy of Governor Uba Sani’s administration that public policy must be judged not just by the scale of public spending or the ambition of official declarations, but by its perceptible effect on the daily lives of citizens.