Electric mass transit buses have been delivered to Oando Clean Energy Limited, a member of the Oando Plc group, for usage in Lagos State.
The business revealed this in a statement late on Tuesday.
In order to facilitate the successful deployment of an electric vehicle infrastructure ecosystem (electric buses, charging stations, and other supporting infrastructure) in the state and the development of a sustainable road transportation system, OCEL and the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022.
The business said that it obtained the vehicles through a partnership with Yutong, the biggest producer of electric vehicles in the world. In addition to receiving these electric buses, OCEL has also received the spare parts and charging stations required to maintain efficient operation.
Adewale Tinubu, Chairman of OCEL, commented on the development by saying, “Audacity and innovation have always been essential aspects in our journey to shape the future of Nigeria’s energy. This spirit, in the vanguard of pushing Nigeria toward achieving her net-zero targets, is what has got us to this point today. The introduction of our electric mass transit vehicles and the creation of an ecosystem for EV infrastructure serves as a reminder that the only way to stay ahead of the curve is to always look for ways to advance and be unafraid to take risks.
“Furthermore, this project underscores the African saying, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.’ Public-Private Partnerships have been critical to getting the project to this point and will continue to fuel our expansion across the entire country. I must commend the collaborative efforts of the Lagos State Government through LAMATA in seeing this project through. The commencement of this project gives us a platform to showcase to other states that are possible and open the door for engagements on bespoke solutions to suit their local needs as well as act as a model to be adopted by other organisations looking to venture into sustainable transportation.”
This is a pivotal moment for Yutong, according to the managing director of Yutong West Africa, Mr Frank Lee. It is the first time we have delivered electric mass transit buses to Sub-Saharan Africa, and it also marks the beginning of Nigeria’s extensive implementation of an electric-powered public road transportation system. We are thrilled to be beginning this journey in collaboration with Oando, a company with a track record of outstanding performance in the energy sector, and we hope to see a quick turnaround in our joint plans to advance all aspects of the nation’s transition to environmentally friendly vehicles, including the development of local capacity through the delivery of, and exposure to, extensive training programs for all stakeholders, from drivers to operators and regulators.
“Our foray into Sub-Saharan Africa has transformed us into a global supplier of EVs with customers across the Middle East, Europe, South America and Asia. Our electric vehicles offer outstanding performance due to their advanced technology capabilities and testing for different terrains; all of which make our buses particularly well suited for use as a public transportation option in Nigeria.”
Additionally, Oando stated that the action was consistent with the company’s strategic aim to decarbonize Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure and, as a result, improve the socioeconomic impact of travel inside the nation.
“Over the next seven years, and through the rollout of over 12,000 buses, this initiative will transition the current combustion mass transit buses to electric, starting in Lagos State and eventually across the country.
“In the medium to long term, and in line with our ambitions, our efforts within sustainable transport will lead to improved air quality, enhanced public health, enable the employment of at least 3,000 new drivers and an additional 2,000 workers to support bus maintenance, depot management, etc. as well as estimated economic cost savings of $2.6bn (3.6 per cent of Lagos’s GDP),” part of the statement read.
The business went on to say that its EV roll-out plan is in line with the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, specifically supporting the government’s aim for implementing EVs throughout Nigeria and its intention to increase local capacity in the longer term by erecting EV assembly factories.
