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FG to roll out 200 CNG buses, 2,500 tricycles next month

Published

2 years ago

April 22, 2024

FG to roll out 200 CNG buses, 2,500 tricycles next month

Targets one million automobiles

The Federal Government says it will unveil its first set of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and tricycles for mass transit next month (May 2024), as part of activities to mark President Bola Tinubu’s one year in office.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday said 200 buses and 2,500 tricycles powered by CNG would be unveiled.

He said the buses and tricycles would be rolled out with a set target of one million CNG-powered automobiles by 2027.

He said the committee led by Michael Oluwagbemi was set to deliver cheaper, safer and more climate-friendly energy vehicles.

Onanuga said the committee had fulfilled some foundational reforms to enable the new CNG and electric vehicles to deliver the future Tinubu promised.

He added that all was ready for delivery of the first set of critical assets for deployment and launch of the vehicles ahead of the first anniversary of the Tinubu administration on May 29.

Onanuga also said, “In collaboration with the private sector, the PCNGI is set to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites spread across 18 states before the end of this year.”

The Federal Government provided N100 billion, as part of the N500 billion palliative budget, to purchase 5,500 CNG vehicles, being part of the many intervention programmes to cushion the effect of increase in petrol pump price on the masses.

This included buses and tricycles, 100 electric buses and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, with the development of CNG refilling stations and electric charging stations.

Onanuga said with necessary tax and duty waivers approved by Tinubu in December 2023, the private sector partners in the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI) had responded with over $50 million investments in refuelling stations and conversion centres

He stated, “Also, a safety policy document on 80 standards and regulations that must be strictly adhered to by operators has been developed and approved to ensure CNG conversions are done safely and reliably.

“The deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the vision to get at least one million natural gas propelled vehicles on our roads by 2027 will mark a major energy transition in our country’s transportation industry.

Onanuga also said, “Four plants owned by JET, Mikano, Mojo, and Brilliant EV located in various parts of the country are involved in the assembly of the Semi Knocked Down (SKD) components of the CNG buses.

“JET, which has received the SKD parts, is coupling the buses in Lagos and is working towards delivering 200 units before the first anniversary of the Tinubu administration.

“Brilliant EV will assemble electric vehicles. It is awaiting the SKD parts, which will arrive in due course. The electric vehicles it will produce are meant for states, such as Kano and Borno, which do not have access to CNG for now.

“They will also be available in key Nigerian cities and university campuses.

“It must be noted that soon to be completed gas pipeline projects initiated by the Buhari administration and being completed by NNPCL (the AKK Pipeline) will take gas into the hinterlands of North-East and North-West where there is current paucity.”

He said over 600 buses were targeted for production in the first phase this year while a new plant on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would assemble thousands of tricycles.

“The SKD parts manufactured by the Chinese company LUOJIA in partnership with its local partner to support the consortium of local suppliers of CNG tricycles are set for shipment to Nigeria and expected to arrive early in May. About 2,500 of the tricycles will be ready before May 29, 2024.

“Thousands of conversion kits for petrol powered buses and taxis that want to migrate to CNG are also ready with CNG cylinders.

“The Federal government intends to provide them at subsidised rates, especially to commercial vehicle drivers to bring down the cost of public transportation.”

As part of private sector collaboration, NIPCO and BOVAS are involved in offering refilling services for the CNG vehicles and also serving as conversion centres.

NIPCO is setting up 32 stations nationwide to offer the services. The company has completed the set-up of four of the CNG stations.

“Likewise, BOVAS is setting up eight stations in Ibadan, two each in Ekiti, Abuja and four in Ilorin.

“MRS is also involved. It is making efforts to announce where its refilling stations and conversion centres will be,” Onanuga added.

He also said NNPC Limited, which had launched an on-and-off CNG initiative in the past, was joining the new initiative and expected to announce the locations for CNG refilling and CNG conversion centres nationwide.

The statement said PCNGI was working with 22 other agency-partners, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Automotive Design and Development Council, to deliver 80 Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion and Associated Appliances Standards for the country.

He added that the vision of the President to deliver one million gas vehicles could not be possible without the private sector, including the RTEAN, NURTW and players in the downstream sector of the transportation chain and financiers.

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Toyota moves to ease vehicle ownership amid economic challenges

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo; Chairman of TNL, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, and MD/CEO, AGL Motors Ltd, Alhaji AbdulAfeez Gabar Lado, at the presentation of the 2025 best customer award to AGL Motors in Lagos.

Toyota Nigeria unveils plans to ease vehicle ownership

As rising costs put car ownership beyond the reach of many Nigerians, Toyota Nigeria Limited says it is rolling out fresh measures to make buying and maintaining vehicles easier for customers.

Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, announced the plans at the company’s 2026 Awards and Customers’ Night in Lagos, where he reaffirmed Toyota’s commitment to expanding mobility solutions in the country.

A statement on Thursday quoted Ade-Ojo as saying Toyota Nigeria would continue to innovate and introduce strategies that would enable more Nigerians to own and maintain Toyota vehicles while enjoying quality after-sales support.

According to him, the company’s commitment goes beyond selling vehicles to ensuring customers enjoy a seamless ownership experience through a robust nationwide service network.

“We will continue to innovate, adapt and elevate our product offerings and service delivery. Our ambition remains clear: to sustain industry leadership while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development as a responsible corporate citizen,” he said.

He added that the company’s future plans are aligned with Toyota’s global vision of enriching lives through mobility, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and value creation.

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Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence (plus photos)

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2026

Trends Admin

Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence (plus photos)

Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the biggest winner at the 2026 Toyota Awards and Customers’ Night, clinching the coveted Evergreen Customer of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in recognition of its exceptional patronage of Toyota vehicles over the past five years.

The colourful event, held on Friday, May 5, 2026, at The Podium Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, brought together an impressive gathering of customers, dealers, government officials, corporate partners, media practitioners and industry stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) and strengthen the partnerships that have sustained its leadership in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

The annual awards ceremony serves as a platform to reward loyal customers, honour strategic partners and reinforce the company’s customer-first philosophy.

The highlight of the evening came when representatives of Zenith Bank were invited to the stage to receive the prestigious award for purchasing the highest number of Toyota vehicles from TNL dealerships in 2025.

The banking giant also secured the same honour last year after emerging as the customer with the highest cumulative vehicle purchases between 2020 and 2024.

In recognition of the feat, Chairman and founder of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, presented Zenith Bank with the keys to a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross.

The competition in the Customer of the Year category was equally keen. AGL Motors emerged as the overall winner, while the Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank finished as first and second runners-up respectively. The winners received office equipment worth several millions of naira.

The 2026 edition of the awards carried special significance as Toyota Nigeria celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of operations since its establishment in 1996.

In keeping with its tradition of recognising contributors across its business ecosystem, Toyota Nigeria also honoured outstanding automotive journalists whose reports and analyses helped shape public understanding of developments in the industry.

Veteran motoring journalist, Theodore Opara of Vanguard, was named Journalist of the Year for his consistent coverage of the automotive sector and insightful reporting on industry trends and Toyota’s innovations.

Mike Ochonma of Transport World emerged as the runner-up, while Rasheed Bisiriyu of Newstrends was recognised as the second runner-up for their contributions to automotive journalism, particularly in the areas of vehicle technology, mobility solutions and market analysis.ĺ

Earlier in his keynote address, Managing Director of TNL, Kunle Ade-Ojo reflected on the company’s journey, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, innovation and customer loyalty.

“Tonight is a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment,” he said.

“For us at Toyota Nigeria, this annual gathering is more than a tradition. It is a deliberate expression of our enduring philosophy of putting the customer first. It provides a unique platform to honour the loyalty, trust and partnership that have defined our journey over the years.”

According to him, Toyota Nigeria has evolved from modest beginnings into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands through a relentless focus on quality, reliability and service excellence.

“Since commencing operations in 1996, our journey has been defined by resilience, growth and transformation. Our progress over the past three decades has been anchored on one unwavering principle—creating value for our customers.

“Beyond delivering vehicles that meet diverse mobility needs, we have invested significantly in building a nationwide after-sales ecosystem designed to provide a seamless and premium ownership experience.”

Ade-Ojo assured customers and stakeholders that Toyota Nigeria would continue to innovate and improve its products and services despite prevailing economic challenges.

Several dealers and business partners used the occasion to commend Toyota Nigeria for its continuous investments in dealer development, training initiatives and workshop upgrades aimed at improving service delivery nationwide.

Ade-Ojo expressed gratitude to Toyota Nigeria’s extensive network of stakeholders, including dealers, customers, suppliers, consultants, financial institutions and employees.

“The journey of the past 30 years would not have been possible without the unwavering support and contributions of our stakeholders,” he said.

The managing director also acknowledged the support of Toyota Nigeria’s principal partner, Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as the company’s board of directors led by Chief Ade.Ojo.

He further assured customers that Toyota Nigeria would continue to introduce customer-friendly initiatives designed to make vehicle ownership more accessible despite economic headwinds.

“Despite the monumental challenges in the economy, Toyota Nigeria will continue to devise means that will enable our customers to enjoy their preferred auto brand—Toyota. We will continue to initiate customer-friendly business improvement strategies aimed at making our vehicles more affordable.”

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Toyota Motor Show Ignites Youth Interest in Future Mobility

Published

1 week ago

June 5, 2026

Trends Admin

L-R: TV personality/brand influencer, Somadina Anyama (Soma); Head, Service at the Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr Sylvester Enwere; actor/social advocate, Kate Henshaw, and Head, Dealer Development and Special Duties at TNL, Mr. Henry Ojuoko, on the Day 2 of the Toyota Motor Show in Lekki Lagos.

Toyota Motor Show Ignites Youth Interest in Future Mobility

Toyota Nigeria Limited turned the spotlight on the next generation of tech leaders and automotive enthusiasts at the 2026 Toyota Motor Show.

Held at The Podium in Lekki, Lagos, the four-day exhibition dedicated its second day entirely to fueling youth innovation, featuring high-stakes academic battles, technical workshops, and star-studded panels.

The youth-focused itinerary kicked off with an intensive Technical Workshop led by Toyota Nigeria’s Master Technician and Key Instructor, Saheed Shorinola.

The masterclass set the stage for a thrilling day of intellectual rivalry, where students and young professionals put their creativity and analytical skills to the test.

Brilliant Minds Battle for N1.550 million in Cash Prizes.

The atmosphere electrified as two powerhouse student teams clashed in a debate centred on the future of mobility and technological innovation.

• The Debate Champions: Team A—comprising Robinson Goodness, Esabu Blessing, and Igbayisemore Tony—clinched victory after a fiercely contested argument, walking away with the N600,000 grand prize.

The Runners-Up: Team B, featuring Akinware Breakthrough, Yusuf Rahimat, and Dawn Ijaware, put up a stellar defense to secure the N300,000 runner-up prize.

Intellectual fireworks continued during a high-speed automotive quiz. After multiple elimination rounds testing deep knowledge of vehicle mechanics and Toyota history, the final three emerged triumphant:

• 1st Place (N250,000): Feyisetan Tolase Emmanuel

• 2nd Place (N150,000): Ayorinde Bolarinwa

• 3rd Place (N100,000): Shobowale Oladimeji.

. Mario Chukwuma, Aduloju Oluwatomiwa and Abdulsemiu Ayodeji came 4th, 5th and 6th respectively, going home with N50,000 each as event reward.

Star-Studded Judging and Corporate Vision

The brilliant performances drew high praise from the judges’ bench, which was chaired by award-winning actress and social advocate Kate Henshaw.

“The future remains bright when young people are encouraged to embrace knowledge and innovation,” Henshaw remarked, praising the contestants’ confidence and analytical depth.

Also on the panel were TV personality and influencer Somadina ‘Soma’ Anyama, Toyota Nigeria’s Head of Service Sylvester Enwere, and Head of Dealer Development and Special Projects, Henry Ojuoko.

“Toyota’s mission goes beyond selling vehicles,” said Ojuoko. “It is about inspiring curiosity and encouraging young Nigerians to explore massive opportunities in technology, mobility, and innovation.”

Cars, Comedy, and Beats: A 4-Day Spectacle

The Motor Show, which ran from June 2 to June 4 and June 6, was described as a masterclass in brand engagement.

• On the Track: Visitors enjoyed exclusive test drives of flagship models, including the Camry, RAV4, Land Cruiser, Corolla, and Hilux, alongside receiving free vehicle diagnostic services.
• In the Crowds: Popular comedian and content creator Mama Deola took over day 3, bringing her signature humour to the showroom floor while highlighting vehicle features for fans.
• The Grand Finale: The exhibition wrapped up on Saturday with an explosive DJ/music festival of sort, hosted by celebrity On-Air-Personality Dotun. The highlight was the “DJ Bump Off”—a heated wheels-of-steel battle featuring four top DJs, where the delectable female DJ Medusa, out-mixed the competition to take home the crown.

By blending education, high-stakes competition, and top-tier entertainment, Toyota Nigeria Limited has once again proved that the future of mobility is not just about the machines—it’s about the people driving the conversation.