Frontline indigenous automaker, Lanre Shittu Motors, has made history as the first company to assemble 100 per cent compressed natural gas-powered buses in Nigeria.
The company also stated that it would support those buying a large fleet including state governments with the installation of mobile CNG stations across different locations.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Monday at the launch of the buses, the Managing Director of Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr Taiwo Shittu, said the CNG vehicles are being assembled at the Amuwo Odofin assembly plant, Lagos.
The LSM boss, who spoke along with the deputy managing director of the company, Lukman Shittu, said 100 units of the buses coming in two specifications would be introduced in the first phase to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s CNG initiative of easing public transportation and cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr Joseph Osanipin, said he was excited about the initiative, adding, “Now that LSM has taken the bold step which l hope others will key into, no need to bother about the cost of conversion because the vehicles are already factory-fitted.
Speaking further on the new CNG vehicles, the LSM MD said while the first bus, a 31-seater, would be deployed for intra-airport shuttle, the second spec, a 54-seater also accommodating 25 people standing, would serve as mass transit city bus.
The MD said, “Now we have the real CNG new buses on the ground. We are the first to have full CNG vehicles for sale, others are converted engines or hybrid.
“Any state that is really interested in saving cost should be talking to us.
“We have two specifications, one for airport shuttle, and the other for mass transit city bus.”
Taiwo Shittu also said the city bus was built with seven cylinders and could travel for 450-500 kilometres before recharge.
The Deputy Managing Director of the company, Mr Lukman Shittu, said the company was willing to install mobile CNG stations across different locations, especially for large fleet buyers.
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