The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles says operators under its scheme must maintain reduced transport fares nationwide.

Ismaeel Ahmed, executive chairman of Pi-CNG and EV, stated this during an interview on Sunday.

Mr Ahmed spoke amid growing passenger concerns in the Federal Capital Territory about transport fares charged by CNG-powered vehicles.

Commuters alleged that some airport taxis and commercial buses operating under the initiative were not complying with approved fare structures. They also questioned the initiative’s monitoring efforts and its ability to enforce compliance among participating operators across the territory.

Mr Ahmed said all operators participating in the programme signed agreements to maintain reduced transport pricing.

“There is an existing agreement with all operators signed up with us to maintain reduced pricing structures,” he said.

He explained that monitoring personnel had been deployed and that reporting channels had been created for passengers to submit complaints.

“We have monitoring personnel in place, along with reporting channels for passengers to raise any concerns or complaints,” Mr Ahmed said.

He admitted enforcement remained difficult in some areas, especially when monitoring officials were absent from transport routes.

“Once we are not there, people increase their prices, and when we are there, they leave it reduced. This is not limited to Abuja,” Mr Ahmed added, stressing that similar compliance challenges existed in other parts of Nigeria.

According to him, verified complaints from commuters had been investigated and addressed through existing monitoring mechanisms.

Mr Ahmed, however, acknowledged that manpower limitations continued to affect wider enforcement and routine oversight operations. He said the initiative was working with strategic partners to improve route coverage and compliance across major transport corridors.

Mr Ahmed disclosed that expansion efforts were ongoing on routes, including the Kubwa route, to improve service delivery and fare compliance.

He also appealed to the media to support public awareness and monitoring efforts surrounding the programme.

“The media has an important role in ensuring the public continues to benefit from this intervention,” he said.

(NAN)