Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive for lower transportation fares through the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric buses, commuters in several states are still paying unchanged or higher fares.

Findings reported by Correspondent on Thursday showed that the directive had yet to result in widespread fare reductions across states including Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Imo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Gombe, Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun.

The situation has been attributed to limited access to CNG buses, inadequate refuelling infrastructure and conversion centres, as well as the continued high cost of fuel, spare parts and vehicle maintenance.

Tinubu had on September 19 urged state governments to ensure that savings from cheaper CNG transportation were passed on to commuters through lower fares from October 1.

However, the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, Ismaeel Ahmed, said October 1 was not a deadline for all states to reduce fares simultaneously, but the date from which the Federal Government would begin monitoring implementation.

Ahmed said some states, including Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara and Ebonyi, had already begun reducing fares through CNG and electric vehicles.

He also cited Abuja, where CNG buses operate on major routes, Lagos, where additional CNG buses have been deployed, and Zamfara, which recently launched 100 electric taxis.

The development comes as the Federal Government and state governments continue efforts to expand alternative-fuel transportation and reduce the impact of high transport costs on Nigerians.