Metro

CNG Taxis Slash Fares By 40% At Abuja Park

Published

5 months ago

May 2, 2025

The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas, Chief Executive Officer, Michael Oluwagbemi, has announced a 40 per cent transport fare reduction for commuters boarding CNG-powered taxis from the popular Area One Motor Park in Garki, Abuja.

The PiCNG CEO made the announcement at a field press briefing in Area 1 park on Friday in Abuja after the successful conversion of over 50 per cent vehicles at the park to CNG fueling.

He said the initiative is part of efforts to cushion the harsh effects of fuel subsidy removal, adding that the 40 per cent fare discount was specifically introduced to ease the high transport fare burden placed on Nigerians.

Represented by the Regional CNG Coordinator, North, Mr. David Idako at the motor park, Oluwagbemi said the PiCNG management had reduced the price in collaboration with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.

He stated that the reduction, which took immediate effect, is not only aimed at providing financial relief to commuters but also at promoting the adoption of CNG as a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to petrol.

Idako said, “We have worked hand-in-hand with the National Union of Road Transport Workers. We have converted a lot of their vehicles, and based on the agreement that we have with them, of course, it is for them to reduce the prices for the general public so that the effect of the fuel subsidy that was taken off the burden will be reduced on Nigerians.

“So I am here representing the project director to announce to you that here in Area 1, as of today, Area 1 Park, in conjunction with the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, we have come here to start enforcing the price reduction. This is why we are here. We have converted over 50 per cent of vehicles in Abuja to CNG, and we are working tirelessly to increase CNG availability across the country.”

The new fares range from N240 to N900, depending on the route.

According to him, from Area One to Gwagwalada, which used to cost N1,500 with petrol, reduced to N900, while Area One to Bwari Dutse which was also N1,500, was reduced to N900. Area One to Kuje, which was N1,200, was reduced to N720.

He added that Area One to Galadimawa, which was N500, was reduced to N300.

The PCNGI boss said Area 1 to Mpape, which used to be N1,000, was reduced to N600. Area one to Zuba, according to him, was 1,500, and that was also reduced to N900.

He said Area One to Lugbe, which was N700, was reduced to N420, while the Jabi route, which was N720, was reduced to N420.

Area One to Wuse, he said, was reduced from N420 to N240 while Area One to Nyanya was reduced from N700 to N420.

He also said Area 1 to Kabusa N800 was reduced to N480, while the Apo route was reduced from N500 to N300.

On the modalities to ensure compliance with the new fares, he said there was a task force comprising members of the PCNGI and NURTW in place to enforce compliance with the new price regime.

He added that CNG stickers and the new prices were on the vehicles for passengers’ information.

Passengers were advised to report defaulting drivers to the task force for sanctions.

“So at the moment, these are the reductions we have achieved at Area 1 park. The reduction project will continue. More cars have been converted and we move from here now.”

“We are going to go to Area 3 where we have also done the reduction of their prices. We are going to go to all other parks within Abuja and eventually the country,” he stated.

Similarly, the Secretary of the Garki Branch, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ibrahim Jibril, said the union is in total support of the 40 per cent reduction.

“We are in support of the 40 per cent reduction. If you look at it now, you go to buy fuel, N20,000. And then you go to buy gas, N4,500. You will use the same volume, at the same time to work. At least you are even saving almost 75 per cent.”

He further commended the President for his efforts to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.

“The President has tried his best to see how he can reduce the sufferings of Nigerians in order to reduce the price of transportation,” he said.

To ensure compliance with the new fares, the union has put in place a task force to monitor and discipline errant drivers.

“We have put a task force in place to checkmate vehicles that are already being converted, so we can give a reduction in their prices,” the NURTW Secretary explained.

“As long as we are giving that benefit, we also want the members to enjoy it in order to make sure that Mr. President succeeds in this program that he has launched,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Commercial Coordinator of PICNG, Tosin, Coker, assured that the government is working hard to increase CNG availability across the country, with more stations coming online soon.

“We are working hard to make sure we get these stations up and running.”

“We are working tirelessly to make sure gas is available everywhere; we see the queues in all the stations here and a lot of MRUs that are coming in.”

“We have 10 stations across Abuja, and we know even in this coming month, we have at least two more coming on stream,” he said.

Metro

Lagos Man Shot Dead After Fight In Nightclub

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

There was panic on Friday after a man, identified simply as Alex, was shot by suspected gunmen at Iyana Isashi in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at about 8 pm.

A resident in the community who requested not to be mentioned due to the nature of the incident had told The PUNCH that the deceased was on his way to meet a friend when two men on a bike accosted him.

One of them was, however, said to have pulled out a gun in the process and shot him at close range.

The source said, “Alex stays at Cele Niza here in Iyana Isashi. He had just come back from his place of work when he stepped out again, probably to meet a friend. He was on his way when some men on a bike stopped him on the way and shot him. It was the sound of the gunshot that attracted people around, who rushed to the spot and found him lying in a pool of blood. The gunmen were also seen trying to escape from the area while still on the bike.”

According to the source, Alex was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was being attended to.

Giving an update on the incident on Wednesday, the source confirmed to that the victim succumbed to the gunshot injuries earlier in the day.

“We lost him this morning. He had been in a coma since that Friday, and doctors tried all they could to save him, but he did not make it,” the source disclosed.

Metro

Gunmen Invade Ex-Ogun LG Chairman’s Residence

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2025

Editor

An armed gang on Thursday morning invaded the residence of former Ijebu-Ode Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Emilola Gazal, carting away valuables, cash, and his vehicle.

Gazal, who is also the publisher of The Roots Magazine, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

“The three armed men broke into my residence at Ijebu-Ode GRA at about 2 a.m. They collected all the cash with me after which they forced me to open my bank apps on my phone and transfer everything there to an account they provided. They left only N5,000 in my account.

“They also made away with my wife’s trinkets and with my ash-colour car. They actually told me they would be going away with my car. I am just going to report the incident to the police at Igbeba and Obalende, Ijebu-Ode”, Gazal told our correspondent.

According to The PUNCH, that this incident comes amid a spate of violent robberies and home invasions reported across Ogun State, particularly in the Ijebu area.

For example, earlier this year, the Ogun State Police Command killed a suspected armed robber in a gun duel along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Expressway.

The command, on September 12, 2025, also recently arrested a man linked to a burglary and armed robbery in Ayetoro, amounting to about N1.5 million in stolen goods.

Meanwhile, the regional security network, Amotekun Corps, has in past operations engaged criminal gangs in shootouts, neutralising suspects in Ogun’s border zones.

Details later…

Metro

Edo Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers In Gun Duel

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command neutralised two suspected kidnappers in a gun duel in Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area on September 30.

The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed this on Wednesday in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin.

According to Yamu, other suspects escaped with varying degrees of injury in the course of the gun battle, while guns and mobile phones were recovered from the scene.

He said, “On 30th September, 2025 at about 09:50hrs, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Amedokhian Tactical Division, in synergy with local Hunters and the Vigilante group, led by SP Peter Ogah, embarked on a bush combing operation along the railway track leading to Ubiaja in Esan South East Local Government Area.

“During the operation, the team encountered a gang of suspected kidnappers who opened fire on the operatives. In the ensuing gun duel, two of the suspects were neutralised, while others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

“One AK-47 rifle with breech number 4148, 33 rounds of live ammunition, and two mobile phones were recovered at the scene. The neutralised suspects were immediately taken to the hospital where they were confirmed dead.”

The command’s imagemaker also disclosed that on the same date, operatives of the same Tactical Division recovered an English-made double-barreled shotgun with breech number 03273286 and two live cartridges in the forest around Idumogun community in Ukoni area of Esan South East LGA during a bush combing operation.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the gallantry of the operatives, hunters, and vigilante groups for their swift response and synergy in combating crime.

Agbonika assured members of the public that the Command remains resolute in its commitment to rid the State of criminal elements.

He urged members of the public to support the command’s Community Safety Partnership initiative and informal policing efforts in ensuring a safer Edo State.