CNG cuts tricycle fuel costs by over 70% — NURTW chieftain - Punch Newspapers

The adoption of Compressed Natural Gas for commercial transport has cut the daily fuel expenditure of some tricycle operators from as much as N17,000 on petrol to about N4,000, a Lagos chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has said. The NURTW Zone C Chairman in Alimosho, Azeez Istijabah, said the difference had provided significant relief to transport operators struggling with high petrol costs and demonstrated the potential of the Federal Government’s CNG policy to reduce the operating costs of commercial transportation. Istijabah spoke recently at an empowerment programme for tricycle operators in Alimosho, where he distributed brake oil, tyres, pointers and other maintenance items to beneficiaries. He said a typical tricycle operator could spend between N15,000 and N17,000 daily on petrol, depending on usage, while the cost of running the same vehicle on CNG could fall to between N3,500 and N4,000. The figures represent a potential reduction of more than 70 per cent in daily fuel expenditure for operators who are able to access CNG at the prices cited by the union leader. Istijabah said the development was particularly important for commercial transport operators because fuel constituted a significant component of their daily operating expenses, with higher costs ultimately affecting both their earnings and the fares paid by passengers. He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for promoting CNG as an alternative to petrol, saying the policy could help reduce the financial pressure created by high petrol prices. “Some commercial vehicles have been fitted with CNG systems at no cost to operators,” he said, adding that the expansion of CNG refuelling stations would further improve access to the alternative fuel. Istijabah also argued that increasing the number of CNG-powered buses and tricycles could deepen the impact of the policy by allowing more operators to shift away from petrol. His comments came as transport operators continue to contend with the higher cost of running commercial vehicles, making fuel efficiency a major concern for drivers whose incomes depend on daily trips. However, the NURTW chieftain’s emphasis on CNG was accompanied by a call for greater attention to the condition of commercial vehicles, saying cheaper fuel would not by itself address the safety risks associated with poorly maintained vehicles. He announced that the union had begun a quarterly safety monitoring programme across Lagos to inspect commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles and identify vehicles requiring repairs or maintenance. How high can petrol prices go? King’s College concession: Workers resist alumni takeover, clash with police Ecobank partners AD Consulting for Nigerian art convergence According to him, union representatives would visit motor parks every three months to assess vehicles and follow up on safety concerns identified during the inspections. He said the union would provide basic maintenance items, including tyres, mirrors, wipers and engine oil, to operators whose vehicles required them. Istijabah said particular attention would be paid to braking systems because defective brakes could turn routine journeys into fatal accidents. He urged commercial transport operators to regard vehicle maintenance as a responsibility to both themselves and their passengers, rather than waiting until vehicles developed major faults before taking them for repairs. He also called on operators to comply with Lagos State traffic regulations and cooperate with government agencies responsible for road safety and transport regulation. Beyond the CNG initiative, Istijabah praised the Lagos Blue, Green and Red Line rail projects, saying continued investment across different modes of transportation would benefit both operators and commuters. The NURTW leader, however, used the event to urge transport operators and other residents to support Tinubu and the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, in the 2027 elections. He urged the beneficiaries to mobilise their families, friends and associates to support the two politicians, arguing that the APC had performed creditably at the federal and state levels. He said the CNG initiative and other transportation policies under the Tinubu administration were among the reasons for his support. The empowerment programme therefore combined the union’s political mobilisation with a practical intervention targeting the cost and safety pressures confronting commercial transport operators. Istijabah said the vehicle safety programme would continue beyond the current exercise, with quarterly inspections and maintenance support intended to reduce avoidable breakdowns, brake failures and road crashes across Lagos. Ayoola Babalola

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