Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing in Nnewi Anambra State, south east Nigeria, has mass-produced and unveiled Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) enabled vehicles, which the company says are alternatives of fuel-enabled cars for Nigerians amidst the rising price of petrol and diesel.
The vehicles range from trucks, mini-buses, ambulances, long buses, SUVs, and several others.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, assured Nigerians of the safety of CNG Vehicles and the availability of various kinds of cars.
“We manufacture according to demand. why we manufactured these buses because there is a demand for them now, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we produced more ambulances, so we are on the ground and ready to produce”.
Speaking on the future of alternative fuels, the Innoson Boss stated that CNG vehicles bring a solution to total dependence on one or two kinds of vehicles.
The Governor of Anambra State, represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu disclosed that Anambra State is gearing up to provide solutions to the challenges Nigerians currently face because of the removal of fuel subsidies.
In his words, “We are aware that Innoson has renewable technologies, CNG, LNG and Solar powered technologies that can contribute to the mass transport system in Nigeria and other national solutions”.
“The withdrawal of the subsidy has created a shock and the price of fuel has increased by almost 200% leading to restiveness in the Nigerian Labour Congress, the trade unions, and other Nigerians. The cost of transportation has risen apparently and one of the ways the government can alleviate that is by introducing mass transit systems that run on alternative energies as well as fuel. The more you have the ones that run on gas and solar, the greater the chances of a stable fuel price due to the existence of choices.”
He also added that local manufacturing and empowered industries are needed in Nigeria to boost the economy and shrink the national debt profile.
“All we need is for the industries and everyone else to look to local solutions.”
The Head of Corporate Communications, at Innoson Vehicles, Mr. Cornel Osigwe pointed out the advantages of Natural Gas Vehicles and the need to patronize local manufacturers.
According to him, “Gas has high combustion rate than fuel. So generally, gas is more environmentally friendly. Nigerians are used to petrol cars but the abundance of natural gas has provided sustainable alternatives to all”.
“Transportation is very crucial to economic development. Beyond the movement of people from one place to another, it also facilitates the quick and effective distribution of goods and services.
“At this stage in Nigeria’s development, better transportation options are the perfect solution to the rising dependence on petrol and diesel to meet the transportation needs of over 200 million persons.”
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, an indigenous car manufacturing company has produced hundreds of CNG-powered vehicles suitable for Nigerian and African Roads.
Representatives of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Bank of Industry, auto industry chieftains and oil and gas investors, at the commissioning ceremony, applauded Innoson Vehicles.
The unveiling of the CNG vehicles took place at the IVM factory, Nnewi.
