President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the Federal Government has waived over ₦3.3 trillion in fuel taxes and duties as part of measures to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on Nigerian households and businesses.
Tinubu made this known in a statement released on Sunday, October 11, 2026, while highlighting ongoing efforts to reduce transportation costs through the expansion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicle services across the country.
The President stated that the government was working to ease the burden of rising transportation costs on Nigerians while providing affordable alternatives to petrol-powered transportation.
He noted that NNPC Retail was foregoing its profit margin for 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators, as the government worked towards a ₦1,350-per-litre ceiling on wholesale petrol supply costs to reduce price volatility.
Tinubu explained that the measures were designed to provide immediate relief while the government continued to expand affordable transportation alternatives.
“When we removed the petrol subsidy, I knew the decision would bring difficulties for many households. With that decision came a responsibility to provide practical alternatives that would ease transportation costs,” he said.
The President cited the experiences of commuters and transport operators who reported lower travel costs following the introduction of CNG-powered transportation services.
According to him, Blessing, who travels from Masaka to Berger in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), now pays ₦500 instead of ₦1,500 per trip, while Ada and Abigail pay ₦1,600 instead of ₦4,000 for journeys between Enugu and Nsukka.
He also referenced the experience of a taxi driver, Kabir, who said ₦10,000 worth of CNG enabled him to make three more return trips than colleagues using petrol.
Tinubu further noted that some commuters in Borno were now paying as little as ₦50 per trip using CNG and electric vehicles.
He mentioned that the experiences demonstrated the intended benefits of government investments in alternative transportation, noting that lower operating costs for drivers should translate into more affordable fares for passengers.
On efforts to expand access to affordable transportation, the President declared that the government was working with state governments through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and private investors under the National Affordable CNG Transportation Programme.
He revealed that Ekiti had received 15 buses, Lagos 20, while Akwa Ibom had 50 buses ready for service in recent weeks.
Tinubu also affirmed that Katsina had introduced 30 CNG hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles, while Kano had received 30 CNG buses and five electric buses, with another rollout scheduled for Edo State.
He added that Kaduna’s 100 CNG buses had transported more than three million passengers to date.
Beyond the deployment of buses, the President said that more than 400 certified centres had converted over 120,000 vehicles to CNG, while the government was expanding refuelling infrastructure to improve access for drivers.
Responding to calls for more buses, including a request from a Nigerian identified as Emmanuel, Tinubu acknowledged that many communities were still waiting for affordable transportation services.
He pledged that the government would continue working with state governments to expand access to the services.
The President also stressed the need for sustainable policies, saying the government had a responsibility to provide immediate relief without compromising the future of younger generations.
“Every commitment must be sustainable and backed by a credible plan. That responsibility guides our decisions, including the difficult ones,” he remarked.
Tinubu added that anyone seeking to lead Nigeria should be prepared to explain the cost of their promises, how they would be implemented, and whether they could be sustained.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding affordable transportation across more communities in collaboration with state governments.
