Kaduna’s free CNG buses save commuters ₦1.39bn in five months, says commissioner

Ahmed Maiyaki, Kaduna State commissioner for information and communication, says the state’s free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus service has saved residents an estimated ₦1.39 billion in transport costs over a five-month period, from July to November 2025.

The initiative, which has transported more than 1.4 million passengers, is being described as a major intervention to ease economic pressure on households.

Maiyaki disclosed this during a media briefing on Friday in Kaduna, where he presented fresh data on the scheme’s performance.

He said the assessment showed that between July and September 2025, the buses conveyed 683,650 passengers, resulting in fare savings of ₦738.8 million. Ridership increased in October and November, with another 626,710 passengers saving ₦667.2 million.

Initially designed as a targeted intervention for civil servants and students, the service was expanded to all commuters following overwhelming demand, the commissioner said.

The buses currently operate on four major routes within Kaduna metropolis, Zaria and Kafanchan, making eight trips daily with a fleet of 30 CNG buses. The service now averages 18,426 passengers daily, or roughly 294,824 monthly.

Maiyaki attributed the spike in ridership in October, which recorded 339,530 passengers, to the reopening of schools and increased intra-city movement.

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He added that beyond direct savings, the scheme has boosted small-scale commercial activity and restored mobility for informal traders displaced by previous urban renewal projects, helping to revive microeconomic activity.

Describing the free rides as a “people-centred intervention” by Governor Uba Sani, Maiyaki said the programme is specifically designed to support civil servants, artisans, students and low-income earners. He noted that demand remains high, with commuters queuing before dawn at some of the 200 designated bus stops.

The government has positioned the free bus service as a central pillar of its strategy to provide tangible relief during tough economic conditions. With ₦1.39 billion saved by residents in just five months, officials say the data demonstrates the scheme’s consistency and its effectiveness in delivering measurable economic cushioning for Kaduna’s commuting population.

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