Forland, TSS Motors strengthen technical capacity with specialised truck training

Forland Motors, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of light commercial trucks, has strengthened its partnership with local assembler and distributor, Transit Support Services Ltd (TSS), through a specialised three-day technical training programme aimed at boosting the competence of technicians handling the brand’s vehicles in Nigeria.

The programme was organised to equip the TSS technical team, comprising assembly and after-sales technicians, with in-depth knowledge of Forland light trucks, which are assembled and distributed in Nigeria by the company. The training covered assembly, installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance, with the goal of ensuring high service standards in both vehicle assembly and after-sales support.

The training, held at the TSS Motors Training Centre on Ikorodu Road in the Anthony area of Lagos, was facilitated by Forland instructors who arrived from China, alongside TSS technical personnel drawn from Lagos, Enugu, and Abuja.

Also in attendance were technical personnel from Yuchai, the major supplier of engines to Forland trucks. Yuchai is one of China’s largest manufacturers of powertrain solutions.

Forland training at TSS office in Lagos

Providing further insight into the programme, the Head of After-Sales Services at TSS, Mrs. Phebian Iwalokun, said the training focused on general maintenance, engine servicing, and preventive maintenance programmes.

According to her, the initiative was designed to ensure that TSS technicians are fully equipped to manage the growing number of Forland vehicles operating in Nigeria.

She added that continuous skill enhancement had become necessary as TSS prepares for an expansion in production capacity amid increasing demand for Forland trucks across the country.

“Forland trucks are currently gaining ground in Nigeria, with over 1,000 units already in operation, mainly among fast-moving consumer goods companies, logistics firms, and last-mile distribution operators,” Iwalokun stated.

A subsidiary of ABC Transport Plc, Transit Support Services assembles Forland trucks at its plant in Enugu and provides technical and after-sales support to customers nationwide.

Forland has continued to build a strong reputation globally as a successful commercial vehicle and light-truck brand, with its products performing strongly in several international markets.

ABC Transport Group founder, Mr. Frank Nneji (right), presented certificates to the participants

Rising Inflation Forces CBN to Hold Interest Rate at 26.5%

The Central Bank of Nigeria has retained the country’s benchmark interest rate at 26.5 per cent as monetary authorities move cautiously in response to renewed inflationary pressure in the economy.

Governor of the apex bank, Olayemi Cardoso, announced the decision on Wednesday at the end of the 305th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee held in Abuja.

“The Committee’s decision is as follows: retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent,” Cardoso stated.

The decision signals a pause in the Central Bank’s easing cycle after the MPC approved a 50-basis-point reduction in February 2026, the first rate cut after months of aggressive monetary tightening aimed at taming inflation and stabilising the foreign exchange market.

Analysts said the MPC’s latest stance reflects concerns over the recent uptick in inflation, despite earlier signs of moderation in consumer prices.

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According to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.69 per cent in April 2026 from 15.38 per cent recorded in March, representing a 0.31 percentage-point increase.

The increase has raised concerns among policymakers over persistent price pressures driven by food costs, energy prices, transportation expenses and exchange rate volatility.

The Monetary Policy Rate serves as the benchmark for lending rates across the banking sector and plays a critical role in determining borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.

Since assuming office, Cardoso and the current MPC have maintained a tight monetary policy stance to rein in inflation, attract foreign portfolio inflows and restore investor confidence in the Nigerian economy following sweeping foreign exchange reforms and broader macroeconomic adjustments by the Federal Government.

Economic experts believe the decision to retain the rate reflects the CBN’s attempt to balance inflation control with the need to support economic growth and private sector investment.

The committee’s decision is also expected to influence yields in the fixed-income market, banking sector lending rates and overall investor sentiment in the coming months.

Rising Inflation Forces CBN to Hold Interest Rate at 26.5%

CILT President, LASU prof to Headline 2026 Nigeria Transport Lecture on Multi-Modal system 

The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University, Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, will headline the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Lagos.

The annual lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, is regarded as one of the country’s leading platforms for policy dialogue and industry engagements in the transportation and logistics sector.

This year’s edition, themed “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth,” will bring together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to examine safety concerns, operational challenges and policy directions required to strengthen Nigeria’s evolving transport system.

The event will hold at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, according to a statement made available on Wednesday by the organisers.

The organisers also said discussions at the lecture would focus on improving safety across road, rail, air and maritime transportation as Nigeria intensifies efforts to develop an integrated multi-modal transport network capable of driving economic growth and national development.

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Over the years, it added that the Nigeria Transport Lecture had featured prominent policymakers and industry leaders, including former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa; and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s lecture, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing pressing challenges confronting the transport and logistics industry.

“Every year, we use the lecture as a platform to discuss contemporary issues shaping the industry. This year, we chose multi-modal transportation safety because without safety, ongoing transport initiatives by governments at different levels may not achieve their intended impact,” he said.

Kintum added that the lecture reflects the organisation’s commitment to promoting sustainable transportation policies and supporting the development of an efficient and globally competitive logistics industry in Nigeria and across Africa.

CILT President, LASU prof to Headline 2026 Nigeria Transport Lecture on Multi-Modal system