Relief for Last-Mile Delivery Operators as TSS Motors launches Forland T5 light Trucks

Nigeria’s fast-growing logistics and distribution sector has received a major boost as Transit Support Services Ltd. (TSS Motors) unveiled the locally assembled Forland T5 light truck, a new range of mini trucks designed to slash the high operating costs that have long plagued last-mile delivery operators.

The company said the introduction of the Forland T5 series, assembled at its Enugu plant, is aimed at providing businesses with a durable, affordable and fuel-efficient solution for the most expensive stage of the supply chain—the final delivery to customers.

Although the last mile is typically the shortest leg of the distribution process, it remains the most complex and costly, accounting for a significant share of transportation and shipping expenses.

By leveraging local vehicle assembly, TSS said it is passing on substantial cost savings to logistics operators and businesses.

Speaking on the new product, TSS Senior Sales Executive, Miss Blessing Aluh, said the company developed the Forland T5 in response to the growing demand for practical and cost-effective delivery vehicles.

“Businesses have long been searching for a practical solution to the high cost of last-mile deliveries. With our Forland T5, that much-awaited solution has finally arrived in Nigeria.

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“TSS has come to the rescue with a truck specially adapted for last-mile delivery because of its low maintenance cost. It is guaranteed to reduce operating expenses and make deliveries more efficient,” she said.

According to Aluh, the T5 is built by Forland, the specialised light truck division of Foton, and manufactured to high international quality standards.

The truck is powered by an 82-kilowatt DAM 15R petrol engine noted for its fuel efficiency and low emissions.

It is offered in both box-body and cabin-and-chassis configurations, giving businesses the flexibility to choose a model that best suits their operations.

Aluh explained that the cabin-and-chassis version would enable customers to fit a wide range of specialised bodies, including flatbeds, enclosed box bodies, drop-side bodies, refrigerated vans, mobile clinics and mobile vending units for food, snacks and beverages.

The air-conditioned cabin comfortably seats the driver and a salesperson, while the vehicle comes with a manual transmission and hydraulic braking system.

To meet varying operational needs, TSS is offering the Forland T5 in 1.5-tonne and 2-tonne payload variants, alongside a 2.5-tonne dual-fuel CNG/petrol version.

Like other Forland vehicles marketed by the company, the T5 is backed by nationwide after-sales support, including a one-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty.

TSS said local assembly has also made the vehicle more affordable, with the flatbed version priced at less than ₦16 million.

Aluh noted that customers have the option of buying the flatbed model and building a customised body elsewhere or purchasing a factory-fitted box-body version directly from the company.

“What this means is that you can build your box body elsewhere or customise it the way you need it. But we also supply box bodies,” she said.

She added that TSS can also facilitate bank financing for qualified buyers, enabling customers to spread payment for the vehicles over an agreed period.

Relief for Last-Mile Delivery Operators as TSS Motors launches Forland T5 light Trucks

Winpart by CFAO, CFAO Solidarity Advance Child Welfare Through Bethesda Foundation Initiative

Winpart by CFAO, in collaboration with CFAO Solidarity, has reinforced its commitment to community development and social impact by supporting the Bethesda Child Support Foundation, a gesture aimed at expanding care, education and empowerment opportunities for vulnerable children while strengthening sustainable development initiatives across the communities where the CFAO Group operates.

The donation forms part of a broader corporate social responsibility initiative designed to support organisations making measurable differences in the lives of disadvantaged people.

Through the intervention, CFAO Solidarity and Winpart by CFAO presented €7,000 and ₦1 million to the Foundation to bolster its programmes focused on child care, protection, education and holistic development.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Managing Director of CFAO Mobility Nigeria, Kunle Jaiyesimi, said the company believes business growth must be accompanied by meaningful contributions to society.

“At CFAO, we believe that business success must go hand in hand with social responsibility. Our support for the Bethesda Child Support Foundation reflects our commitment to backing initiatives that create meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of children and communities,” he said.

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Jaiyesimi noted that the intervention aligns with the company’s broader vision of promoting sustainable community development through strategic partnerships with organisations delivering tangible social impact.

The project is one of several initiatives selected and funded by CFAO Solidarity, the Group’s employee-led solidarity programme, which supports impactful community projects across the countries and communities where CFAO operates. Working with credible partner organisations, the programme seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable populations while driving positive and lasting social change.

Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of Winpart by CFAO, Eric Fantodji, said the company was proud to support an organisation dedicated to giving vulnerable children hope and opportunities for a better future.

“The work being done by the Bethesda Child Support Foundation is truly inspiring. We are honoured to support a cause that provides care, hope and opportunities to children who deserve the chance to build brighter futures. Through CFAO Solidarity, we are proud to be part of a wider movement supporting impactful community projects across our areas of operation,” he said.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Foundation, Olamide Adeleye expressed gratitude to Winpart by CFAO and CFAO Solidarity, describing the support as a significant boost to the Foundation’s mission.

“We are deeply grateful to Winpart by CFAO and CFAO Solidarity for their generosity and belief in our mission. This support will contribute significantly to the welfare, development, and empowerment of the children under our care,” she said.

The initiative further underscores CFAO’s commitment to sustainable development and community engagement, highlighting the value of partnerships between the private sector and social institutions in creating lasting benefits for vulnerable communities.

Through interventions such as this, CFAO Mobility Nigeria and CFAO Solidarity continue to strengthen their commitment to building resilient communities, supporting vulnerable groups and advancing inclusive, sustainable development across the regions where the CFAO Group operates.

Winpart by CFAO, CFAO Solidarity Advance Child Welfare Through Bethesda Foundation Initiative

Auto Tariff Reforms Must Not Undermine Nigeria’s Manufacturing Drive, NAMA Warns

The Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has urged the Federal Government to align its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures with stronger industrial protection policies, warning that tariff liberalisation without adequate safeguards could undermine years of investment in Nigeria’s automotive manufacturing sector.

In a policy position submitted to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and copied to the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the association said while the new fiscal measures support regional trade integration, they could weaken local vehicle assembly if not complemented by incentives that protect domestic manufacturers and encourage further investment.

The position paper, signed by NAMA Chairman, Mr. Bawo Omagbitse, and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Harpreet Singh, commended the Federal Government for pursuing economic reforms and aligning trade policies with the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It also welcomed initiatives promoting locally assembled vehicles, the End-of-Life Vehicle Policy and the Vehicle Conformity Assessment Programme.

However, NAMA expressed concern that the reduced duty gap between imported fully built vehicles and locally assembled units could erode the competitive advantage required for Nigeria’s emerging automotive industry to grow.

“Nigeria’s automotive industry is still at an infant to intermediate stage. Affordability for buyers and protection for the investment that creates jobs are not in conflict, and our appeal is that the two move together,” Omagbitse said.

The association cited Nigerian Ports Authority figures showing vehicle imports increased by 67 per cent, from 35,262 units in the first quarter of 2025 to 58,870 units during the same period in 2026. According to NAMA, the sharp rise suggests importers anticipated lower tariffs on fully built vehicles even before the latest fiscal measures took effect.

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It warned that accelerated liberalisation could further increase vehicle imports, reduce local assembly volumes, weaken capacity utilisation and discourage investment in assembly plants and component manufacturing, including tyres, batteries, plastics, automotive glass and other locally sourced parts.

While reaffirming support for the government’s objectives of improving affordability, boosting revenue and promoting regional integration, Dr. Singh stressed that successful automotive nations first strengthened domestic manufacturing before opening their markets.

“Our request is simply that these gains be sequenced with the industrial incentives that every successful automotive economy put in place before opening its market,” he said.

NAMA pointed to countries such as Thailand, Morocco, South Africa and China as examples of economies that built competitive automotive industries through a combination of tariff protection, production incentives, supplier development programmes, export support and improved infrastructure before embracing wider market liberalisation.

Reviewing Nigeria’s automotive policy between 2014 and 2020, the association noted that local content development and production capacity remained below expectations largely because the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) lacked legislative backing and investors had insufficient long-term policy certainty.

To strengthen the industry, NAMA recommended restoring a wider tariff differential between imported and locally assembled vehicles, making consultation with NADDC and the Ministry of Industry mandatory before future automotive fiscal policy changes, and urgently passing the NAIDP into law.

It also proposed production-linked incentives, the establishment of an automotive supplier development fund, priority access to foreign exchange for industrial inputs, and dedicated energy and logistics support for manufacturers.

“Nigeria risks becoming a large vehicle consumption market without becoming a meaningful automotive manufacturing economy,” the association warned.

NAMA reaffirmed its readiness to work with the Federal Government, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Director-General of NADDC to ensure ongoing economic reforms strengthen local manufacturing while advancing Nigeria’s long-term industrialisation agenda.

Auto Tariff Reforms Must Not Undermine Nigeria’s Manufacturing Drive, NAMA Warns