By Patience Moses Chat
Nigeria’s indigenous auto manufacturing company, Innoson Motors, has moved from producing vehicles that are powered only by petroleum liquids, such as premium motor spirit (PMS) and diesel, to now include those that are gas-powered.
The vehicles, which include heavy-duty trucks, long buses and cars, are powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Speaking recently during the commissioning of the vehicles by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) at Nnewi in Anambra State, Chairman, Innoson Group of Companies, Innocent Chukwuma, said the future of automobile is gas-powered vehicles. He stated that the commissioning of the vehicles is a testament to the fact that his company is making Nigeria a hub for automobile manufacturing in Africa.
According to him, “I observed that normal gas and fuel is very expensive now in Nigeria. So, we have to find alternative. This is to also ensure the purchase of vehicles and their maintenance will be cheap. This way, the common man can afford to buy more vehicles”. “We are now doing LNG, CNG powered vehicles and also trying to do electric motors. Electric, LNG and CNG vehicles are the future. The durability of these vehicles are better; they have been tested. Just that many people don’t know about this,” he said.
Chukwuma further stressed that, educating people on the advantages of cars powered by CNG and LNG was key, and that, when people start using these vehicles, they won’t go back to usage of fuel and diesel-powered types.
He noted that, movement of goods with trucks from one state to another is very expensive because of the cost of fuel, adding that, with the new gas powered heavy-duty trucks, the cost of shipment and movement of goods will be very affordable.
On the patronage of the vehicles, Chief Chukwuma said it was encouraging, adding that, he has already secured orders from Benin, Edo state.
In a related development, stakeholders in the transportation sector have called for speedy transition to alternative options for fuel in road transportation.
The stakeholders, who gathered at the third pre-event conversations of the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners’ Forum with the theme, “Post-Fuel Subsidy Regime: Exploring Other Options for a Sustainable Urban Transportation System in Nigeria,’ said Nigeria needs to explore its gas reserves alongside adopting electric vehicles as part of solutions to the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said the removal of fuel subsidy is a highly sensitive and contentious issue, given its effect on the economy. She added that, many nations have abandoned fuel subsidies to ease financial strains, foster market competition and address environmental issues.
Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, said the agency is promoting the transition to alternative and cheaper means of fueling vehicles with the use of autogas. Aliyu said that with the emergence of new automotive technologies, the automotive industry is rapidly gaining momentum on the strategic transition from the use of petrol and diesel to electric vehicles (EV) and natural gas-powered vehicles (NGV).
The continuous use of conventional fuel such as petrol and diesel in vehicles, he said, has contributed to global warming and climate change, which is detrimental to human health and polluting the environment. According to him, CNG and LPG-powered vehicles are safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly, which produce about 20 per cent less CO2 emission than petrol and diesel vehicles.
Executive Secretary, Nigeria Transportation Commissioners’ Forum, Chinwe Uwaegbute, said Nigeria is at a critical juncture where the dynamics of the urban transportation system need to undergo a transformational shift.
Uwaegbute said the dismantling of the fuel subsidy regime marked a pivotal moment that demands attention, reflection and collaborative exploration of alternatives. “We must harness this juncture to usher in a paradigm shift towards a sustainable urban transportation system that aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and improve the quality of citizenry,” she said.