The Federal Government, by the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), has handed over five electric buses to transport operators in Kano State, focusing on a 40% discount in fares for commuters.
The deployment was disclosed by the initiative, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
The transfer is a part of the Federal Government’s efforts to broaden the usage of compressed pure gasoline (CNG) and electric autos in public transportation throughout a number of states, with the goal of decreasing transport prices, selling cleaner power and enhancing mobility.
FG targets 40% fare discount with electric buses
The five electric buses, every with a 20-seater capability, had been handed over to two transport operators: Camel Mobility and Kano Metropolitan Transport Company.
Speaking on the handover ceremony in Kano, Ahmed Katuka, Manager of Assets at Pi-CNG & EV, mentioned the deployment was anticipated to cut back commuter fares by not less than 40% in contrast with prevailing typical transport fares.
- “This strategic intervention shows the Federal Government’s determination to accelerate the transition towards cleaner energy and modern mobility solutions while improving access to affordable public transportation,” Katuka mentioned.
- “The deployment is expected to significantly reduce the cost of transportation for commuters, with fares projected to be at least 40% lower than prevailing conventional transport fares,” he added.
- He defined that the brand new electric buses would complement the present fleet of 14-seater and high-capacity buses already deployed to Kano underneath the initiative.
Katuka mentioned the intervention was additionally anticipated to decrease carbon emissions, enhance passenger security and luxury, and encourage private-sector participation in cleaner city mobility.
Kano operators search higher transport infrastructure
The transport operators welcomed the deployment however highlighted the infrastructure and working circumstances wanted to make electric mobility simpler in Kano.
Responding on behalf of the operators, Ahmed Garba-Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of Camel Mobility, described the initiative as a welcome growth for the transport sector, noting that electric mobility supplied alternatives for extra environment friendly transportation providers.
- He pledged that Camel Mobility would put the buses into operation to ease commuting for residents.
- Garba-Ahmed mentioned comparable electric buses had been already working in Abuja, Lagos and different components of the nation.
- He known as on the Kano State Government to present devoted transport corridors, designated bus stops, a conducive working surroundings and satisfactory safety infrastructure to help the environment friendly operation of the autos.
Also talking, Ahmad Rufai-Yusuf, Manager of the Kano Division of Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, mentioned electric buses would scale back fuel-related working prices for transport operators and, in flip, assist decrease fares for passengers.
The operators’ feedback spotlight the significance of supporting infrastructure and working circumstances in reaching the anticipated fare reductions.
Lagos tightens guidelines on diesel buses
The Kano deployment comes as different states are introducing insurance policies to encourage the usage of alternative-fuel autos in public transportation.
Lagos has begun phasing out diesel-powered buses from its regulated public transport system, with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) proscribing operators from introducing new diesel buses.
The policy, which took effect at the beginning of 2026, requires new buses entering the regulated system to run on compressed natural gas or electricity, whereas present diesel-powered buses are to be progressively changed.
LAMATA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abimbola Akinajo, mentioned the transition was geared toward decreasing transport emissions and managing rising working prices. The authority had about 150 CNG buses earlier than receiving 20 extra high-capacity buses from the Federal Government in September.
FG pushes nationwide CNG and EV adoption
The Kano deployment additionally types a part of the Federal Government’s wider push to transfer business transportation away from petrol and diesel in direction of various fuels.
In October, Pi-CNG & EV Chairman, Ismael Ahmed, proposed making the transition to CNG mandatory for commercial vehicles, arguing that the programme ought to give attention to reaching nationwide adoption.
Ahmed mentioned Nigeria has about 12 million autos, with business autos accounting for an estimated 55% to 60% of the full. He additionally famous that decrease transport fares had been already being recorded on some routes the place CNG and electric buses function, though the reductions had but to attain passengers broadly sufficient.
The Federal Government is focusing on the conversion of 1 million business petrol autos to CNG by 2027 and plans to broaden the nationwide community of CNG refuelling stations to 1,000.
About 120,000 autos had been transformed as of the most recent information revealed on the initiative’s web site, whereas the programme had attracted greater than $2.5 billion in funding.
