By James Orji
The Lagos State government has signed an agreement with Oando Clean Energy Limited for the rollout of electric mass transit buses in the state. According to a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU signed between Oando and the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, the private firm will also provide charging infrastructure and service centers for the buses.
Speaking on the MoU the state Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde said the state government is poised to cutting greenhouse gases and replacing them with cleaner energy resources.
Oladeine said the state government is developing a multi – modal transport system which include land, rail and water transportation to serve over 25 million commuters in the state.
According to him, “With an understanding that transportation is a key emitter of greenhouse gases in Nigeria, we developed a strategy to cut greenhouse gases by 50%. A key component of this strategy was identifying and developing a more robust mass transit system for Lagos that would include rail and waterways amongst others. Using electricity to power mass transit is a step in the right direction, and from there we would gradually transit to private cars.
“This is just the beginning, there is still a lot more to come on stream. I commend LAMATA and Oando on this MoU signing, and both parties can be rest assured that they have my full backing to ensure success.
Also speaking on the MoU the Managing Director, LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo said the government is working at building a transportation ecosystem to serve Lagosians.
“We began this journey late last year, and for us, this has been a rapid development. It speaks to the energy and zeal of both organizations, and that is commendable.
“Oando Clean Energy came to us with a comprehensive solution that went beyond electric mass transit buses to include supporting infrastructure, and this was key for us, as the full remit of an EV support ecosystem is the only way to achieve success.
“This initiative will not only accelerate the Government’s transportation agenda, but also positively impact the health of Lagosians and the environment. The magnitude of its impact is far-reaching, and when you start to look at it as more than a transport initiative, you will see how laudable a project it is.
“The Oando brand comes with know-how and experience, and we are relying on this to successfully move from MoU signing to actual implementation that will in the medium to long term benefit over 22 million Lagos commuters. We look forward to a very robust and fruitful partnership,” Akinajo said.
