Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, August 28, 2026, faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over claim of cheaper fuel that would lead to cheaper transport fares, describing it as another ‘Animal Farm’ promise.
President Tinubu on Thursday said the federal government has reached an agreement with State Governors to cut transport fares nationwide by leveraging CNG and electric vehicles.
But, Atiku in a statement by his Media Office specifically said that his targeted subsidy plan would ensure the production of cheaper fuel and, in turn, lead to cheaper transport fares.
The former Vice President insisted that his proposed innovative subsidy would not only ensure the production of cheaper fuel, but would also reduce the cost of transportation and food.
He said that additionally, it would support Nigerian production, protect consumers and put more purchasing power in the hands of Nigerians.
Conversely, the ADC Presidential candidate said the plan by Tinubu to work with state governors by leveraging CNG and electric vehicles raises more questions than answers.
Atiku asked; “Is the government announcing a fully operational programme, or merely announcing a target for a programme whose implementation framework is still being developed?”
He noted that while President Tinubu has said that the Federal Government and state governors have agreed to begin implementing measures aimed at reducing transport fares, with the goal of Nigerians benefiting from lower fares from October 1, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in its communiqué following its meeting on August 26, said that the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme still requires further consideration of its financing and implementation framework.
“Governor Douye Diri also indicated that the implementation timeline would be worked out with stakeholders. That means Nigerians deserve clarity. What exactly will be operational on October 1?
“The government says more than 120,000 vehicles have already been converted to CNG and that additional conversion kits are being deployed. But Nigerians need more than a headline figure.
“It is pertinent to know how many of those vehicles are commercial passenger vehicles. How many are currently operating on CNG every day?
“How many passengers are actually benefiting from reduced fares? And in which states and on which routes? These are the figures that matter,” he stated.
The Waziri Adamawa further said that a station that has been announced, ordered or planned is not the same as a station that is operational, supplied and accessible to commercial transport operators.
According to him, the Tinubu-led APC government should therefore publish the locations, status and commissioning timetable of these stations, stressing that there must be a transparent system for ensuring that the savings reach commuters.
In the words of Atiku; “If government supports vehicle conversion, provides financing, supplies fleets or subsidises infrastructure, then participating operators should have clearly defined fare obligations.
“There should be: a published baseline fare; a published reduced fare; identified routes and participating operators; transparent details of government support; a clear implementation timetable; and an enforcement mechanism for operators who receive public support but fail to pass the savings to passengers,” he said.
The former Vice President observed that the Tinubu government’s own previous CNG experience demonstrates that enforcement matters.
Atiku noted that in 2025, the Federal Government announced a 40 percent fare reduction on CNG-serviced routes in Abuja and deployed a task force to monitor compliance.
“Yet reports at the time also highlighted problems with CNG availability and the ability of converted vehicles to access adequate supplies. The lesson is clear: A fare reduction announced in Abuja is not the same as a nationwide transport solution.
“Nigeria is a large country with very different transport systems and levels of CNG infrastructure. A commuter in Lagos, Abuja or another major city may have access to CNG infrastructure that is unavailable to commuters elsewhere.
“So, when the government says Nigerians nationwide will benefit from cheaper fares, Nigerians are entitled to ask for a state-by-state implementation plan.
“October 1, should therefore not be another political deadline. It should be a measurable delivery deadline. By October 1, Nigerians should be able to ask: How much has my fare actually fallen?” he stated.
Atiku also said these questions should have clear answers because Nigerians have endured an extended cost-of-living crisis.
“Transport costs do not merely affect commuters; they affect the price of food, goods and services because everything has to be moved from one location to another,” he said.
The ADC Presidential candidate said; “The Federal and state governments must publish the numbers: How many vehicles? How many routes? How many states? How much funding? What fare reduction? What enforcement mechanism? And what happens where CNG infrastructure is not yet available?”
Atiku insisted that the government must now demonstrate that principle in practice because Nigerians do not pay their transport fares with policy statements, but pay with money they have earned and also do not commute on announcements, but on buses.
He also said that on October 1, the only announcement that will truly matter to the ordinary Nigerian is the one made at the bus stop that the “fare has come down.”
