DIPLOMAN TIMES

Kaduna State's free compressed natural gas mass transit scheme has recorded approximately 3.2 million passenger trips and more than ₦3.5 billion in reported commuter savings during its first year, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly commending the intervention.

The Kaduna State government publication said the scheme operates with a fleet of 100 CNG-powered buses and was introduced as part of the state's response to transportation pressures following the removal of the petrol subsidy. The reported first-year figures put passenger use at about 3.2 million trips and commuter savings above ₦3.5 billion.

President Tinubu, in a post referenced by the publication, made special mention of the Kaduna intervention and said it demonstrated how cheaper domestic energy could translate into transportation relief. His comments came as federal and state authorities continued preparations for the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme.

At an August 27 meeting with governors, the presidency and state chief executives discussed coordinated action to reduce commuting costs, with an implementation committee subsequently constituted under the Nigeria Governors' Forum and chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The wider programme involves identifying priority transportation corridors and determining interventions appropriate to different locations, while the Federal Government has positioned domestic gas resources as an alternative to dependence on petrol and diesel. The Kaduna government said its own programme would continue alongside broader economic inclusion, education and skills initiatives.

Governor Uba Sani welcomed the presidential recognition and said Kaduna would sustain interventions intended to reduce pressure on vulnerable households and expand access to essential services. The reported passenger and savings figures remain the principal operational indicators cited for the scheme's first year.