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Updated: Lagos rolls out mini-buses to replace okada in two months
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unveiled cashless First and Last Mile (FLM) buses that will ply inner routes expected to replace commercial motorcycles (okada) in the state.
A total of 300 FLM buses in the first phase of the scheme were rolled out on Tuesday out of the expected 5,000 units
Sanwo-Olu, while unveiling the FLM bus scheme at the Lagos State House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, said the need to phase out okada was the reason their introduction.
He said government would observe the operation of the FLM for two months to know its performance in meeting the needed demand before he would pronounce total ban on okada operation.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said the FLM vehicles were assembled locally, adding that the mini-passenger buses (with capacity for seven to 11 people) would operate on 286 community routes.
Part of the statement read, “They will take passengers from closest points to their areas of residence to standard transportation corridors. Payment for FLM services will be through an automated payment system, using Cowry Travel Cards. Cowry Travel Card holders who use them on BRT buses and standard route buses can use their cards on FLM buses.
“For ease of operation of the scheme, the Lagos State Government delineated the FLM’s corridors into eight zones, comprising Ikeja and Ketu (Zone 1), Oshodi, Mushin, and Surulere (Zone 2), Berger, Yaba and Oyingbo (Zone 3) and Lagos Island, Ajah and Ibeju Lekki (Zone 4).
Others are Iyana-ipaja and Agege (Zone 5), Mile 2, Iyana-Iba and Ajeromi (Zone 6), Ikorodu (Zone 7) and Epe and Badagry (Zone 8).”
Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated brand-new 100 high- and medium-capacity buses into the fleet of Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) to replace vehicles burnt at BRT stations during the wave of violence that marred the EndSARS protests, last October.
The governor said the mini-buses would address okada-related crises that had generated widespread concern on safety among residents. They would offer services which the high-capacity buses were not designed for, he added.
He said, “The launch of the First and Last Mile (FLM) Bus Scheme today is an important milestone in our quest to achieving the intermodal transport system which gives our teeming population the choices they deserve, reducing congestion and journey times, and improving the quality of life.
“It is also in fulfilment of one of the measures we promised as a solution to the security situation discussed at our recent Security Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting.
“As a responsible Government, we are launching this scheme in response to two major issues. One is the alarming statistics of fatal accidents recorded from the operations of okada in Lagos between 2016 and 2019, and the use of okada for the facilitation of crime across the metropolis.
“The goal is the full implementation of a safer and more efficient alternative transport solution that takes out the need for okada and replaces them with safer buses that will help us curb incidents of Okada-related accidents, crime and robberies.”
The statement also disclosed that a ride on the FLM buses would come with a premium insurance policy on the lives of passengers and the drivers, adding that the operation and maintenance of the buses had been handed over to private operators for efficiency and turnover.
Sanwo-Olu said the State Government had been working with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) as major stakeholders in the state’s Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) being implemented by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
He said, “I call on NURTW, RTEAN and all other stakeholders in the public transportation value chain to ensure that these new buses are well maintained and protected, so that the goals of the new service can be fully realised, and all those who invested can derive maximum value from their investments.
“Our local councils’ chairmen must play their parts in ensuring the roads are free from encumbrances likely to impede the smooth running of the FLM buses. I charge our security and law enforcement agencies to be alive to the crucial role they have to play in the success of this scheme.”
Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladehinde said the scheme was a component of the state’s transport system meant to offer relief to residents in the hinterland in accessing the standard transport corridors through safe means.
He said, “In line with the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Transportation and LAMATA, has put in place various measures aimed at readjusting its transportation strategies to accommodate FLM scheme to provide all inclusive, safe, convenient, affordable, and accessible services in line with global practices.”
Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, said the FLM buses operations would start immediately in Zones 2,3,4,5, and 7 captured in the first phase of the bus scheme.
Akinajo said a monitoring mobile application had been designed for real time data collection as well as vehicle tracking purpose to ensure safety, adding that all drivers to be engaged in the FLM scheme would be certified by the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) to ensure that they are fit to operate the buses.
“We will ensure proper maintenance of the buses to guarantee their service longevity. Maintenance of the buses will be outsourced to the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), which will be responsible for executing all preventive and corrective maintenance needs. Operators will ensure that buses are maintained in line with the best engineering standard,” she said.
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Honda shakes up Nigeria operations, dissolves HAWA, retains HMN
Honda shakes up Nigeria operations, dissolves HAWA, retains HMN
Japanese automobile giant, Honda, has overhauled its operations in Nigeria, dissolving its automobile arm, Honda Automobile Western Africa Limited, and folding its business into Honda Manufacturing Nigeria Limited.
The restructuring, which took effect on September 1, 2026, followed the sanctioning of the merger by the Federal High Court, with HMN emerging as the surviving entity.
Under the new arrangement, HAWA, which had been responsible for Honda’s automobile business operations in the country, has ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity, while HMN has taken over its assets, liabilities, contracts, rights, obligations and ongoing business operations.
Honda, however, moved quickly to allay concerns over the development, assuring customers, dealers and business partners that the restructuring would not disrupt its automobile operations or affect the level of service and support they receive.
In a notification to its business partners dated August 31, 2026, Honda said the restructuring had resulted in the consolidation of both companies into “one unified entity”, with HMN assuming all assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, contracts, undertakings and business operations previously held or conducted by HAWA.
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The development means that existing relationships, arrangements and commitments involving HAWA will henceforth be managed and administered by HMN.
The company, however, stressed that the restructuring would not disrupt its automobile business operations in Nigeria.
“Automobile business operations previously conducted by HAWA will continue under HMN without interruption,” Honda assured its partners, adding that it remained committed to maintaining the same level of service, support and cooperation that customers and business partners had come to expect.
The restructuring is also expected to streamline Honda’s corporate structure in Nigeria by bringing its manufacturing and automobile business operations under a single surviving entity.
Honda said it was currently updating relevant corporate records and information as part of the integration process. These include corporate details, registered address, authorised signatories, management information and other related documentation.
It added that any changes requiring the attention of its business partners would be communicated in due course.
The company further requested the continued support and cooperation of its partners during the transition, while providing a copy of the Federal High Court order sanctioning the merger as an appendix to its notification.
Honda shakes up Nigeria operations, dissolves HAWA, retains HMN
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Abuja Roars to Life as Jetour X50 Headlines Three-Day Motoring Experience
Abuja Roars to Life as Jetour X50 Headlines Three-Day Motoring Experience
Abuja is gearing up for a major motoring spectacle as Jetour Nigeria brings its fast-growing brand experience to the Federal Capital Territory, with the stylish Jetour X50 set to take centre stage in a three-day showcase of performance, technology and automotive innovation.
Scheduled for September 22 to 24, 2026, the Jetour Experience Abuja will move beyond the conventional vehicle exhibition, giving motorists and prospective buyers the opportunity to test-drive the X50, interact with automotive specialists and experience a range of entertainment and interactive activities.
The Abuja activation follows the strong reception recorded during Jetour Nigeria’s recent Lagos experience and forms part of the automaker’s strategy to deepen customer engagement while expanding its footprint across Nigeria.
Backed by an expanding authorised dealer network comprising Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mandilas Autos, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, R.T. Briscoe, Tab Autos and New Era AutoVehicle Services, Jetour is also strengthening access to vehicle sales, after-sales support, genuine spare parts and certified technical services nationwide.
At the heart of the Abuja experience will be the Jetour X50, a compact SUV designed to combine contemporary styling, performance and a technology-rich driving environment.
Powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine paired with a dual-clutch transmission, the X50 has positioned itself as a strong contender in Nigeria’s competitive compact SUV segment.
Jetour has equipped the model with a range of premium features, including a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Detection, 10.5-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and leather upholstery.
The combination of technology, comfort and performance is part of Jetour’s strategy of offering premium motoring features at competitive price points.
The Abuja event also highlights Jetour’s aggressive expansion strategy in Nigeria, following the brand’s recognition with industry accolades including Fastest Growing Auto Brand and Auto Brand of the Year.
With its expanding dealer network providing nationwide sales and after-sales support, Jetour is seeking to deepen customer engagement while making its vehicles and ownership services more accessible to motorists across the country.
As Abuja prepares to welcome the Jetour Experience, the three-day activation is expected to provide motorists with an opportunity to see, feel and drive the X50 while experiencing first-hand what is driving the brand’s growing appeal in Nigeria.
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Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008
Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has pledged to lead a fresh push for government patronage of vehicles assembled by Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (D-PAN), promising to make a strong case for the company at the National Economic Council (NEC).
Sani, who made the commitment while unveiling the new Peugeot 5008 2026 model at the D-PAN plant in Kaduna on Friday, said increased patronage by Federal and state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was critical to sustaining local vehicle assembly, protecting jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.
The governor’s intervention comes amid renewed efforts to revive Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing industry by increasing local vehicle production and reducing dependence on imported completely built units.
Industry stakeholders have consistently identified government fleet procurement as a major instrument for creating sustained demand for locally assembled vehicles and encouraging investment in assembly plants.
With government agencies operating large vehicle fleets nationwide, stronger preference for locally assembled automobiles could provide the market certainty required by assemblers to expand production, develop local suppliers and deepen technology and skills transfer. It could also support the broader objective of increasing local content in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
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Against this background, Sani said government patronage remained crucial to ensuring the sustainability of local assembly operations and encouraging further investment in the sector.
“I will make a strong presentation at the National Economic Council, urging both the Federal and state governments to patronise the products of this company because that is the only way they can survive,” Sani said.
He also announced that the Kaduna State Government would procure some vehicles from D-PAN, saying the state would lead by example and encourage other governments to patronise locally assembled automobiles.
“As a government, Kaduna State will order some of the vehicles, so that we can show the example for others to follow by patronising this very important company,” the governor added.
Sani pledged continued support and collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and D-PAN, stressing the importance of strengthening local manufacturing as part of efforts to grow Nigeria’s industrial base.
He said D-PAN had made significant contributions to Kaduna’s economy through job creation, skills development and business opportunities for communities within and around its operating environment.
The governor also urged the company to consider employing graduates of the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational and Skills Development, who, according to him, recently completed intensive training in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Sani commended D-PAN for its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in communities around its plant, while urging the company to further expand its support for the host communities.
He said the peaceful relationship between D-PAN and its host community was important to the sustainability of the company’s operations, stressing that continued investment in the welfare and development of surrounding communities would help preserve the harmony.
Kaduna to Lead Govt Patronage of Local Vehicles as Sani Unveils Peugeot 5008
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