Innoson delivers CNG buses to FG, seeks support for autogas initiative

….Happening after Tinubu’s directive.

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM) has commenced the delivery of the Compressed Natural Gas buses ordered by the Federal Government as part of the Presidential CNG Initiative designed to lessen the effect of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy on the masses.

The delivery is coming about two weeks after the Federal Government formally placed an order for the CNG-powered buses following the visit of the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicle, Chief Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, CON, to President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking to journalists at the factory in Nnewi shortly before flagging off the 100-seater CNG buses on the long journey to Abuja, Chief Chukwuma said it was heart-warming to commence the delivery of the buses only a couple of weeks after receiving the order.

Chief Chukwuma said that Innoson was starting the delivery with 25 percent of the vehicles requested by President Tinubu, explaining that to him, manufacturing the CNG buses for the government for use by Nigerians is more of a patriotic duty than the execution of a business contract.

“And, before the end of next month, we will be manufacturing and delivering another 25 percent of the 100 President Tinubu ordered during my visit to Aso Rock Villa.”

“We have a partnership with the Federal Government to produce CNG buses for mass transportation. And that is because President Tinubu and his team recognise the fact that we have the capacity. Nigeria has the capacity. We are manufacturing CNG vehicles here. So,there is no need to look outside for what is available in Nigeria.

“It is commendable that President Tinubu believes that made-in-Nigeria is the way to go, and that is why the government gave us a contract to produce these CNG buses.
“We are glad that within two weeks after we got the order, we have already produced 25 percent of the vehicles which are departing Nnewi today for Abuja. The government has discovered that CNG is cheaper and results in very low maintenance cost when using it to fuel your vehicle.

“Therefore, let us support the government on this policy of looking inward for vehicles, especially those powered by CNG.

“On our part at Innoson, what we owe the government and the people of Nigeria is to continue manufacturing vehicles that meet their needs in terms of quality and affordability.”

Chief Chukwuma recalled that he had assured President Tinubu during his visit to Aso Rock Villa a few weeks earlier that Innoson would, in tandem with the presidential initiative on alternative energy for transportation, prioritise the manufacture and roll-out of IVM EVs and accelerate the production full CNG vehicles in Nnewi.

“I had promised Mr. President that as the pioneer manufacturer of CNG vehicles in Nigeria, Innoson would contribute substantially to the success story of his Presidential Initiative on CNG, and that my factory would be delivering a good number of buses monthly to the Presidency,” the Innoson Chairman stated.

He also recalled that he had at inception of the plant more than 13 years ago, assured Nigerians, and reiterated so many times subsequently, that the Nnewi plant would continue to manufacture vehicles based on the needs and requirements of the local market without compromising on quality standards.
The recent production of the first units of electric cars by Innoson Vehicles, according to him, is in keeping with this commitment.
It was learnt that the first batch of IVM CNG buses were officially delivered to the Presidency the following day in Abuja

“Let me use this opportunity to re-assure the government and all vehicle buyers in Nigeria that at Innoson, we have the capacity to produce full CNG vehicles, hybrid vehicles {that run on CNG and diesel or petrol}, and now EVs, in addition to vehicles that are powered by petrol or diesel alone,” Chief Chukwuma stated..

The prompt commencement of the delivery of the CNG buses by Innoson contrasts sharply with the long delays by other auto companies who received similar orders since last year from the Presidential committee charged with driving the initiative, but commenced the delivery only recently, even as others are still in the ‘go-slow.’

A friend of the company who is based in Sierra Leone, Chief Christian Anaekwe, who disclosed that the IVM brand is also doing well in that country, hailed Chukwuma for living up to expectation with the prompt manufacture and delivery of the CNG buses to the Federal Government.

He commended President Tinubu for recognising the capacity of Innoson to truly manufacture the CNG buses locally even without the generous concession that other auto companies that got the contracts for supply of the buses since last year have been enjoying.

Chief Anaejwe remarked, “I am aware that some of the other companies have been granted a lot of concessions since 2023, yet there are those of them that have not delivered the CNG vehicles till today.
“But, the company that received its own order only a few weeks ago without any kind of concession, is already delivering the buses. So, why grant concessions to those who don’t have the capacity to deliver?”

MIKE OCHONMA
Editor