Lagos State Mandates CNG and Electric Buses for Transport

The Lagos State Government has implemented a policy that bans the admission of new diesel-powered buses into its regulated public transport system, directing operators to utilize compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric vehicles. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), announced this measure during the handover of 20 high-capacity CNG buses.

The policy, effective since the beginning of 2026, aims to reduce transport emissions and manage rising operational costs due to increased diesel prices, which have surged from about N950 per litre to between N1,950 and N2,100. Akinajo stated that existing diesel buses will be gradually replaced with CNG and electric alternatives, with the goal of operating an entirely electric fleet.

LAMATA currently has about 150 CNG buses and is working with private-sector partners to sustain fuel supply and expand CNG infrastructure across Lagos. The transition aligns with the Lagos State Transport Policy, targeting clean-energy propulsion for 52% of Bus Rapid Transit buses by 2050.