Pi-CNG Operators Must Maintain Reduced Fares, Says Executive Chairman

The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV) has reaffirmed that all participating transport operators are required to maintain reduced fares for passengers nationwide.

Ismaeel Ahmed, executive chairman of the initiative, made this known during an interview on Sunday, following complaints from commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over non-compliance by some CNG-powered airport taxis and commercial buses.

Passengers had expressed concerns about adherence to approved fare structures and questioned the effectiveness of the initiative’s monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Ahmed clarified that every operator enrolled in the programme had signed an agreement to uphold reduced pricing. He added that monitoring personnel have been deployed and reporting channels established for passengers to lodge complaints.

However, he admitted that enforcement remains challenging in the absence of monitoring officials. “Once we are not there, people increase their prices, and when we are there, they leave it reduced,” he said, noting that similar issues occur in other parts of Nigeria.

He confirmed that verified complaints have been investigated and resolved through existing channels, while acknowledging that manpower constraints continue to hinder broader enforcement and routine oversight. Expansion efforts, including on the Kubwa route, are underway to improve service delivery and fare compliance.

Ahmed also called on the media to support public awareness and monitoring of the programme. “The media has an important role in ensuring the public continues to benefit from this intervention,” he said.