The Lagos State Government has taken another significant step towards transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable public transportation with the addition of 11 new electric buses (EVs) by Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL) under the regulation of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
The presentation of the buses, the first batch of a set of 50-bus commitment under the current phase by Oando, represents a major expansion of the electric bus initiative, which began with two pioneer buses deployed for proof-of-concept operations in 2023.
The initiative is expected to pave the way for the eventual deployment of 552 electric buses across Lagos public transport corridors, reinforcing the state's ambition to develop an environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient mass transit system.
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Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the transition to cleaner energy was essential to meeting the transportation needs of Lagos as its population and economic activities continue to expand.
He noted that the state government recognises that the future of transportation must be anchored on sustainability, energy efficiency, innovation and environmental responsibility.
According to him, Lagos is pursuing a progressive reduction in carbon emissions in line with the State Government's net-zero ambitions by 2050.
The Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, described the presentation as evidence of the progress achieved through sustained collaboration between the state government and its private-sector partners.
She said electric buses offer significant environmental advantages, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality and lower noise pollution, while supporting the development of a more sustainable urban transport system.
Akinajo noted that the partnership with Oando was translating a shared vision for cleaner transportation into practical results, adding that the deployment would strengthen Lagos' efforts to modernise public transport operations.
In his remarks, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Oando Clean Energy Limited, Mr. Ademola Ogunbanjo, described the initiative as a defining moment in the evolution of electric mobility in Nigeria and Africa.
He said the project went beyond the introduction of electric buses, representing the foundation of a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable transportation ecosystem that could be replicated across the country and the continent.
Ogunbanjo recalled that the partnership between LAMATA and Oando began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2022, followed by the deployment of two pioneer electric buses in 2023.
He explained that the intervening years had been devoted to testing the technology, evaluating its operational resilience, assessing environmental impact and gauging public acceptance.
According to him, the experience and data gathered over the period provided the necessary foundation for moving from proof-of-concept operations to a larger-scale deployment.
Beyond the supply of electric buses, Ogunbanjo said Oando's ambition was to establish a comprehensive domestic electric mobility ecosystem comprising charging infrastructure, maintenance facilities, technical manpower development, spare-parts supply chains and, ultimately, local vehicle assembly.
He added that the initiative was being supported by financial and technical partners, including the Bank of Industry, Wema Bank and Yutong, with prospective funding partnerships involving the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The partnership reflects the growing importance of public-private collaboration in mobilising the investment, technology and expertise required to transform urban transportation.
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