Nigeria: Sokoto Transport Authority Unveils ₦511m Fleet Renewal, Converts Buses to CNG - GM

What the report says

Sokoto State Transport Authority has begun a fleet renewal and fuel-cost reduction drive that combines new vehicle purchases with a switch to compressed natural gas, according to Vanguard in a report distributed by AllAfrica. The authority’s general manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, said in Sokoto on Monday that seven new 18-seater Hummer buses had been acquired for more than ₦511 million to improve inter-state service and passenger comfort.

Muhammad said the buses were bought with internally generated revenue, and that all seven had already arrived in Sokoto ahead of a formal unveiling expected from Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto. He also said three additional buses had been ordered, bringing the planned expansion to 10 vehicles. The authority says the upgrade is meant to modernize operations and strengthen its role in public transport across major routes.

A second part of the reform focuses on replacing petrol use with CNG to cut operating costs. Vanguard reported that the conversion effort began with the authority’s women-focused “Iyaye Mata” vehicles, which have already been completed and put back into service. The transport agency is now converting a fleet of 20 vehicles, at an estimated cost of ₦750,000 per vehicle, before extending the change to larger buses.

The move comes amid higher fuel expenses that transport operators across Nigeria have faced since recent price increases. In that broader context, Sokoto’s approach reflects a wider public-sector effort to keep fares manageable while improving efficiency, reliability and service delivery.