Nigeria: Lagos Bars New Diesel Buses From Regulated Fleet, Mandates Cng, Electric Vehicles

What the report says

Lagos State has stopped adding new diesel-powered buses to its regulated public transport network and is directing operators toward compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, according to a report by This Day distributed through AllAfrica. The policy was described by Abimbola Akinajo, managing director and chief executive of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), at the handover of 20 additional high-capacity CNG buses under the Presidential Initiative on CNG and EV.

Akinajo said the change has been in effect since the start of 2026 and is part of a gradual replacement of the city’s diesel fleet. She said Lagos aims to cut transport emissions and manage operating costs that have risen sharply with higher diesel prices. The article says the regulated system is expected to move toward an all-electric fleet over time, while existing diesel buses are phased out.

The report also notes that LAMATA already had about 150 CNG buses, along with some electric buses, before the latest addition. Some of the new vehicles may be deployed on the Ikorodu-Tafawa Balewa Square corridor, where passenger demand is high. LAMATA said lower fuel costs have helped keep regulated fares unchanged despite rising diesel prices, and it is working with private partners to expand CNG supply infrastructure.

The move fits into Lagos’ broader transport policy, which seeks wider use of cleaner fuels and lower-emission buses. In a broader national context, Nigeria has been promoting CNG and electric vehicles as a way to reduce transport costs and support cleaner urban mobility.