Female Drivers Seek Inclusion In FG’s CNG Conversion Programme, Transport Reforms

The Female Drivers Association of Nigeria (FEDAN) has called on the Federal Government to include its members in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle conversion programme and ongoing transport reforms to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on commercial drivers.

The association said the high cost of petrol had significantly reduced drivers’ earnings, making it increasingly difficult for women in the transport sector to sustain their businesses and meet their financial obligations.

FEDAN President, Eunice Odeghe, made the appeal in Abuja, lamenting that none of the association’s members had benefited from the government’s CNG conversion initiative despite the potential of the alternative fuel to reduce operating costs.

Odeghe explained that commercial drivers often spend substantial amounts on fuel but earn very little from passenger fares, particularly on routes with low passenger traffic.

“Sometimes you buy fuel for N30,000, and it gives you just a few litres. You travel long distances and may get only two passengers, paying less than N1,000. You cannot make ends meet,” she said.

She noted that members of the association were willing to participate in the CNG programme and undergo the necessary training to facilitate the transition to cheaper and more sustainable fuel alternatives.

According to her, about 200 women have been trained from scratch to become professional drivers, while additional members have joined the profession over time. She added that a few members had already converted their vehicles to run on CNG using personal funds.

The FEDAN president also called for the expansion of CNG refuelling infrastructure across the country, citing long queues at existing stations as a major challenge for drivers.

She said some drivers spend as much as six hours waiting to refuel, resulting in lost working hours and reduced daily income.

Odeghe described the recently announced fare reductions for commercial drivers at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) stations as a welcome initiative but criticised its implementation, saying the policy had not delivered the expected relief to drivers.

She urged the government to ensure that measures introduced to reduce transportation costs were effectively implemented and accessible to the intended beneficiaries.

FEDAN, which works with agencies including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), provides training to women seeking to become professional drivers.

Odeghe disclosed that the association has approximately one million women drivers nationwide, adding that its activities also include sensitising members to crime prevention and helping them identify potential cases of human trafficking.

She called on federal, state and local governments to expand training opportunities for women in the transport sector and introduce accessible vehicle financing schemes.

The association further urged the authorities to provide vehicles through affordable loan arrangements, saying such support would enable more women to enter the industry, improve their earnings and contribute more effectively to the country’s transportation system.