CNG, Tricycles Hit Kaduna Roads To Slash Fares, Boost Employment

By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna

Kaduna State has received 150 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles under a federal initiative aimed at reducing transportation costs, creating jobs, and driving Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.

The rollout, is part of the TNG Tricycle Initiative launched in May 2024 after the commissioning of the TNG Assembly Plant in Shagamu, Ogun State, targets states with existing CNG refueling infrastructure.

Platform Deployment and Recovery Officer, Mr. Nuhu Christopher, who supervised the distribution in Kaduna, said the tricycles are deployed under a subsidized lease-to-own scheme.

Each unit, valued at ₦5million, is issued to beneficiaries at a discounted price of ₦2.5 million, payable over 24 months, with a one-month moratorium.

“So far, this initiative has created over 9,000 direct jobs and 75,000 indirect jobs nationwide,” Christopher said. “It’s not just for the poor. Everyone moves. We’re slashing transport costs and uplifting livelihoods across the board.”

He said the CNG expansion has received a boost from the Dangote Refinery’s ₦720 billion investment in the gas sector, helping cut Nigeria’s annual energy costs by an estimated ₦1.7 trillion.

Also speaking, National President of the Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, Sani Hassan, hailed the deployment as a “lifeline” for operators battered by the 2023 fuel subsidy removal.

“Before now, we spent ₦13,000 to ₦15,000 daily on petrol. With CNG, it’s down to ₦2,000 or ₦3,000. That’s game-changing,” he said.

Hassan noted that each tricycle sustains an entire ecosystem, from drivers to family members, mechanics, vendors and spare parts dealers.

He stressed that the units must be treated as a business, not a freebie. “This isn’t a loan to default on. Repayment will be made weekly through the association to the federal government,” he warned.

To ensure accountability, each tricycle is branded in Nigerian colours and uniquely coded. Hassan added that all CNG riders must implement a 30 percent fare cut to reflect the lower cost of operation.

“For example, a Kawo–Central Market trip that used to cost ₦200 will now be ₦140. Passengers should demand this discount. Any violation should be reported using the phone number displayed on the tricycle,” he said.

He assured that the new CNG fleet will serve all traditional tricycle routes, except areas restricted for security or regulatory reasons.