The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles, Pi-CNG, says it is expanding monitoring operations across transport routes following complaints by commuters over inflated fares charged by some operators under the scheme.
The Executive Chairman of Pi-CNG and EV, Ismaeel Ahmed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in response to growing concerns from passengers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Some commuters had alleged that certain airport taxi operators and commercial buses running on Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, were charging fares above the reduced pricing structure expected under the government-backed initiative.
Passengers also questioned the effectiveness of the programme’s monitoring framework and its ability to ensure compliance among participating operators.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Ahmed said all transport operators participating in the initiative signed agreements committing them to maintain reduced transport fares for commuters.
“There is an existing agreement with all operators signed up with us to maintain reduced pricing structures,” he said.
He explained that the initiative had deployed monitoring personnel and established reporting channels through which passengers could submit complaints about erring operators.
“We have monitoring personnel in place, along with reporting channels for passengers to raise any concerns or complaints,” Mr Ahmed said.
The Pi-CNG boss, however, acknowledged that enforcing compliance remained challenging in some areas due to limited manpower and the unpredictable behaviour of some operators.
“Once we are not there, people increase their prices, and when we are there, they leave it reduced.
“This is not limited to Abuja,” he said, adding that similar challenges had been observed in other parts of the country.
Mr Ahmed noted that verified complaints from commuters had been investigated and addressed through the initiative’s monitoring mechanisms.
According to him, the programme is currently working with strategic partners to strengthen oversight and improve compliance across major transport corridors nationwide.
He added that expansion efforts were ongoing on routes such as Kubwa in the FCT to improve service delivery and ensure that commuters benefit from reduced transport costs under the initiative.
Mr Ahmed also appealed to the media to support public awareness and monitoring efforts aimed at sustaining the gains of the CNG transport intervention.
“The media has an important role in ensuring the public continues to benefit from this intervention,” he said.
