The Ekiti State Government has rolled out about 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses under the Ekiti Transport Services scheme as part of efforts to ease transportation costs for residents.
The development comes amid the Federal Government’s push for states to deploy CNG and electric vehicles to reduce transport fares from October 1, 2026.
According to Trust Radio’s report on October 2, 2026, the buses are expected to operate on routes including Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. However, transport fares in the state remained high, with Ado-Ekiti to Lagos costing about ₦15,000, while fares to Akure, Ibadan and Ilorin stood at ₦4,000, ₦8,000 and ₦7,500 respectively.
The 15 buses were originally handed over to Ekiti by the Federal Government in October 2024 under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative. The Ekiti State Government said at the time that the buses would be used for commercial transportation, including long-haul routes between Ekiti, Lagos and Abuja.
The renewed deployment comes as President Bola Tinubu’s National Affordable CNG Transit Programme targets measurable reductions in transportation costs across the country.
In a September 19, 2026 update, Tinubu urged state governments to ensure that savings from cheaper CNG translate into lower fares for commuters. He said states should work with transport unions and commercial operators, support fleet deployment and provide the infrastructure required to sustain cheaper transportation.
The Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles said on September 10, 2026 that several states were already deploying CNG and electric buses, conversion centres and refuelling infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce transport costs.
However, the impact of the programme remains uneven across the country. The PUNCH reported on October 2, 2026 that transport fares had remained unchanged or increased in several states despite the October 1 target, citing challenges including inadequate CNG infrastructure, refuelling facilities and limited fleet coverage.
For Ekiti, the availability of CNG buses provides an opportunity to reduce the cost of commuting, but the extent of the relief will depend on how widely the buses operate and whether lower operating costs are reflected in actual fares paid by passengers.
The state’s CNG programme therefore adds to ongoing efforts to provide cheaper public transportation, particularly for workers, students, traders and other residents affected by high transport costs.
