Lagos Bars New Diesel Buses from Regulated Fleet, Mandates CNG, Electric Vehicles

The Lagos State Government has ceased admitting new diesel-powered buses into its regulated public transport system, instructing operators to utilize compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric vehicles as it gradually replaces its diesel fleet. This policy, effective since the start of 2026, is part of efforts to reduce transport emissions and control rising operating costs, which have surged due to increasing diesel prices.

Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Managing Director and CEO, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, announced the measure to journalists at the handover of 20 additional high-capacity CNG buses. Akinajo emphasized that existing diesel buses will be progressively replaced with CNG and electric alternatives, aiming for a fully electric fleet.

Transportation is a significant source of emissions, and the transition is crucial for Lagos' commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. With over 150 CNG buses already in the fleet, the latest addition will bolster the CNG network, potentially assigning some vehicles to the Ikorodu–Tafawa Balewa Square corridor to handle high passenger demand.

Akinajo noted that rising diesel prices, from around N950 per litre at the beginning of the year to between N1,950 and N2,100 per litre, have increased the cost of operating diesel-powered buses. Meanwhile, the transition to CNG and electric buses has helped operators manage fuel expenses without raising fares for commuters. The Lagos State Transport Policy, which aims for clean-energy propulsion in 52% of Bus Rapid Transit buses by 2050, supports this shift, with gas and electricity identified as alternatives to decrease transport emissions.

The policy also allows for procuring cleaner vehicles, allocating priority routes, and implementing cleaner-fuel strategies across public transport modes. At the federal level, the move towards CNG and electric vehicles aims to reduce transport costs and enhance access to alternative fuels, with President Bola Tinubu highlighting the lower operating costs of alternative-energy vehicles to help lower fares.