NARTO Boosts Fleet With 28 CNG Buses, Cuts Transport Costs By 30%

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has significantly bolstered its transport capacity through its strategic partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG), announcing the deployment of 28 new CNG-powered buses that are slashing transportation costs by over 30 per cent nationwide.

Speaking at NARTO’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, National President Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, detailed the transformative impact of the collaboration, emphasising how it had unlocked “enormous opportunities” for the association amid a challenging operating environment.

“Our partnership with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) has brought enormous opportunities to the association,” Othman declared. “Notably, we successfully received and deployed new fleets to strengthen our transport capacity. These include 20 units of 14-seater CNG/Petrol buses, 5 units of 56-seater hybrid CNG/Diesel buses, and 3 units of 46-seater CNG/Diesel engine buses.”

These vehicles, Othman explained, are now actively serving interstate and intra-city shuttle routes across Nigeria, delivering safer, cleaner, and more affordable mass transportation.

“These vehicles are currently deployed for interstate and intra-city shuttle services across the country, contributing meaningfully to safer, cleaner, and more affordable mass transportation, as well as reducing transportation costs by over 30 per cent,” he stated, highlighting the direct economic relief for commuters and operators alike.

The PiCNG partnership extends beyond the initial delivery, with fresh assurances of more buses on the horizon. “I am glad to inform this distinguished gathering that we have also received assurances from PiCNG that additional buses will soon be allocated to our association,” Othman revealed, signalling sustained momentum in expanding eco-friendly fleets.

Othman used the AGM platform to reflect on NARTO’s 2025 journey, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for the transport sector.

He praised the President’s CNG initiative alongside “remarkable strides recorded in road construction and rehabilitation across the country,” noting NARTO’s position as direct beneficiaries.

“As direct beneficiaries of these projects, NARTO expressed its profound gratitude to Tinubu,” he added, while urging members and road users to adhere to traffic rules, including axle load limits, “in order to preserve these roads for long-term sustainability and the collective good.”

The NARTO leader also lauded the Dangote Group’s investments, including the world’s largest single refinery and the import of 4,000 trucks for petroleum distribution.

“The initiative will undoubtedly boost local refining capacity, improve product availability, and create employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians,” Othman said.

He extended commendations to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), expressing hope for “fair pricing mechanisms that make petroleum transportation sustainable and profitable.”

Security emerged as another pillar of progress, with Othman outlining deepened ties with agencies like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and others including NDLEA, NAPTIP, Nigerian Customs Service, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Federal Fire Service.

“The operational modalities for these high-level collaborations are being finalised with NARTO’s consultants, and pilot implementations will soon commence to complement government efforts in combating crime and insecurity on the highways,” he noted.

He said stakeholder relations remained robust, with productive engagements sustained with groups such as MEMAN, DAPPMAN, PTD, NUPENG, NLC, IPMAN, NURTW, and RTEAN.

A landmark deal with the Lagos State Government for truck funding promises further fleet renewal. “When fully implemented, the initiative will greatly assist the members in renewing ageing fleets and improving operational efficiency,” Othman affirmed.

Despite these advances, Othman candidly addressed persistent hurdles: declining revenues from unadjusted freight rates, dilapidated fleets, financing barriers, poor roads, insecurity, driver harassment, and rising accidents like tanker explosions.

He appealed for faster completion of road projects before the rainy season and for intensified anti-fuel-scooping campaigns. “NARTO will continue to prioritise safety through sustained sensitisation, advocacy, and training of drivers,” he committed.

Looking ahead to the final two years of his tenure, Othman reaffirmed his dedication. “As we move into the remaining two years of my tenure as National President, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to consolidating our gains and making further progress that will uplift the association and improve the welfare of our members,” he pledged. Priorities include more PiCNG vehicles, favorable funding, and pressure on oil marketers “to review freight rates in order to improve profitability and ensure the long-term sustainability of transport operations.”

The AGM underscored NARTO’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s transport evolution, blending PiCNG-driven innovations with calls for holistic sector support.