Lawmaker urges states, LGs to adopt CNG transport scheme

Ademorin Kuye, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets, urged state governors and local government chairmen to adopt effective mass transit schemes. His call aims to alleviate the impact of high transportation costs on workers across Nigeria.

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The high cost of transportation has for months constituted heavy burdens on the take home pay of Nigerian workers, with fuel dependent transit fares consuming a disproportionate share of monthly earnings for junior and mid-level workers.

Kuye's appeal came after the Federal Government launched 37 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses in the Federal Capital Territory. This initiative, part of the Presidential CNG Initiative, offers subsidized transportation for civil servants and other commuters in Abuja. The rollout addresses sustained increases in transport fares and the broader cost-of-living crisis following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The lawmaker commended the Federal Government's intervention, noting it arrived at a critical juncture for Nigerian workers. He stated that rising transportation costs have significantly burdened employees, with fuel-dependent fares consuming a large portion of monthly earnings. Kuye emphasized that the CNG bus scheme provides direct relief and promotes lower emissions compared to traditional fuels.

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By providing a subsidised, low-emission mass transit option, the Federal Government has taken a concrete, measurable step toward cushioning the effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy on the ordinary worker.

He further described the CNG scheme as a more sustainable intervention than one-off cash transfers. Kuye argued that a functional mass transit system offers recurring relief and can be expanded. He believes this initiative can help restore public confidence by demonstrating the government's ability to translate policies into practical, citizen-focused interventions. However, Kuye noted that the 37 buses in Abuja are insufficient for the capital's workforce and that similar challenges exist at state and local government levels.

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While this step of Federal Government is commendable, 37 buses cannot accurately meet the transportation needs of the government’s workforce in Abuja, let alone the mill