Nigeria’s 36 state governors have rejected allegations that state governments failed to account properly for funds received following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The governors, under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), made their position known after their third meeting in Abuja, where they also expressed support for the proposed National Affordable CNG Transit Programme (NACTP).
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who presented the forum’s communique on behalf of NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, dismissed claims that sub-national governments should be held responsible for poor management of subsidy-removal proceeds.
“That cannot be true. That cannot be true. But we’ll leave that debate for another day,” Diri said when asked whether the governors accepted responsibility for the alleged lack of accountability.
Rather than focusing solely on fuel prices, the governors said reducing transportation costs could provide broader relief for Nigerians because the cost of moving people and goods directly affects the prices of food and other essential commodities.
The forum therefore backed the proposed NACTP, which seeks to support the conversion of vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), provide CNG-powered fleets and develop related infrastructure.
According to the governors, the programme could reduce passenger fares because CNG is cheaper to operate than petrol.
Diri said the governors would work with the private sector to increase the number of CNG vehicles in the country, noting that cheaper transportation could have a multiplier effect across the economy.
The NGF said the details of the programme’s financing and implementation would still be worked out with its proponents.
The governors also received a briefing from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, on opportunities for states to participate in CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, both scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The forum said the platforms would provide opportunities for states to showcase investment-ready projects, promote exports and tourism, and connect state-based MSMEs with investors and buyers across Africa and the global market.
