The Federal Government redirected its planned ₦100 billion allocation for 3,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses towards vehicle conversions, tricycles and buses with larger passenger capacities because it believed the revised approach would benefit more Nigerians.
Tosin Coker, Chief Operating Officer of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, explained the decision during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
President Bola Tinubu announced the ₦100 billion allocation in July 2023 to support the deployment of 3,000 CNG buses following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
However, Coker said the government reviewed the original plan after establishing the presidential initiative in October 2023. According to him, providing 3,000 buses alone would not adequately address Nigeria’s public transportation needs.
He explained that the programme was expanded to include the conversion of commercial vehicles from petrol to CNG, as well as tricycles and buses with higher passenger capacities.
Coker said the initiative carried out more than 25,000 vehicle conversions during its initial phase, with some conversions provided free of charge in collaboration with transport unions and operators.
He added that the programme had introduced more than 650 buses nationwide and recorded over 120,000 vehicle conversions.
The official acknowledged that the number of CNG buses and tricycles operating across the country remained insufficient. He said additional CNG and electric vehicles had been ordered to expand alternative transportation and help reduce fares.
Coker also disclosed that the government was working with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation and other financing providers to enable eligible vehicle owners to pay for CNG conversions in instalments over three, six or 12 months.
He urged state governments to invest more in public transportation, stressing that the Federal Government could not meet the country’s transportation needs alone.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to reduce transportation costs and provide alternatives to petrol-powered vehicles.
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