Lagos set to revolutionalize transportation with delivery of electric buses

Towards the attainment of a sustainable road transport system and an eco friendly environment in Lagos, Oando Clean Energy Limited, OCEL, a part of the Oando Plc group, has taken delivery of electric mass transit buses for use in the State.

The Chairman, OCEL, Adewale Tinubu disclosed this in a statement issued by the company late Tuesday.

In 2022, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, LAMATA to enable the successful deployment of an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ecosystem (electric buses, charging stations, and other supporting infrastructure).

The company said that it partnered with the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, Yutong, to get the vehicles. In addition to the arrival of these electric buses, OCEL has also taken delivery of the charging stations and spare parts necessary to ensure effective operation.

Tinubu, said, “Audacity and innovation have always been key tenets in our journey to transform Nigeria’s energy future. It’s this spirit that has brought us to this juncture today – at the forefront of propelling Nigeria towards realising her net-zero targets. The arrival of our electric mass transit buses and development of an EV infrastructure ecosystem is a reminder that the only way to remain ahead of the curve is by being unafraid to break new ground and consistently looking for opportunities to leapfrog.

Tinubu also noted the role of Public-Private Partnerships in getting the project done.

“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 is 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.”

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In his remarks, the Managing Director, Yutong West Africa Mr. Frank Lee said, “This is a watershed moment for Yutong. It’s our first delivery of electric mass transit buses in Sub-Saharan Africa and the first step in the large-scale deployment of an electric-powered public road transport system in Nigeria.

“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.”

Oando also stated that it will roll out 12,000 buses in the next seven years.

“Over the next seven years, and through the rollout of over 12,000 buses, this initiative will transition the current transport system.