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Rolls-Royce, Daewoo gave my father breakthrough – Lanre Shittu Motors MD, Taiwo Shittu
Rolls-Royce, Daewoo gave my father breakthrough – Lanre Shittu Motors MD, Taiwo Shittu
Lanre Shittu Motors’ Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Shittu, was recently crowned Nigeria’s Auto Personality of the Year and the late father and founder of the auto company received a posthumous award for his developmental strides in the sector.
The MD, in this interview, reflects on the implications of these awards, the genesis of the company and its current state as well as other automotive industry issues
How do you feel winning the Auto Personality of the Year award?
First, I have to express gratitude to Almighty Allah. I thank Him for the opportunity given to me. I feel happy to be so honoured. I know now people are watching everything everyone is doing in the industry. This award, I know, is as a result of hard work. This also means working harder henceforth. One has set the pace; one cannot therefore afford to lower the standards or go down.
I also see this as an opportunity to do more for the industry and ensure that it does not collapse.
Where do you hope to take the company in the next five years?
I give God the glory for what we’ve done so far. The credit goes to my late father Alhaji Razaq Alanni Olanrewaju Shittu, for building the brand name. There is nothing like a good name. If you don’t leave anything for your children other than a good name, the sky is the limit for them. In our own case, he left us money and the good name.
We can’t thank him enough for leaving us with a good name. You can imagine that everywhere we turn to in the country, once we mention we are Lanre Shittu’s sons, we are ushered in immediately. People would say ‘Your father was a good man. He won’t cheat if you did any business with him. His word was his bond; he never broke his promises’. I have heard this many times. And the only thing we can do is to build on this legacy.
In the next five years, I see us growing the LSM brand name to become a sought-after brand in Nigeria. We are starting off with the commercial vehicles. Already, we have the LSM-branded CNG buses, 100 per cent CNG buses, in Nigeria. Right now, we are penetrating the market with the CNG buses. We want to bring in the smaller buses – the 18-seater and 11-seater buses (korope). We have the pickup too, which is also a commercial vehicle, lined up.
From experience, I can tell you that once the commercial sector has tested and found your brand worthy, it will be very easy to migrate to the passenger cars.
When the commercial vehicles are doing well and there is no downtime, you are in business. By the time you bring in the passenger vehicles, it will be a walkover.
One of the reasons we are coming out with the LSM brand is to immortalise our late father’s name.
We see ourselves taking a big chunk of the commercial vehicle segment in Nigeria in the next five years and making the LSM a household name in Nigeria. Lanre Shittu Motors as a company is a household name already, doing other automakers brands. But we want to shift the focus to the LSM brand with high after-sale service. We had represented a lot of brands in the past such as Mack, Yutong, Sany and JAC; we have learnt so much in 43 years from the industry on how to build a brand to penetrate the market – the support, communication. The good name and goodwill will be added advantage for us.
What is the secret behind the success of the Lanre Shittu Motors even after the demise of the founder?
I will say it’s God; the good legacy left behind by the founder, our father, and the unity among the 20 of us – his children, for trusting and believing in me to lead the business. A lot businesses collapse after the death of the owners. Once a business founder is dead, the next you hear is that a fight has broken out and while one person is taking the arm, another is claiming the leg, the other is going for the body. And in six months, the whole empire is gone down.
In our case, we have 20 siblings that are cooperative and believe in my ability to lead the business with my other brothers.
We had a father who never spoiled us. He taught us sincerity, commitment and accountability. All these are coming to play to make his business and legacies live after his death. Our target is to make it live to the next generation; that’s when we can say we are really successful.
What is the relationship between Lanre Shittu Motors and the Mack truck brand in Nigeria?
We still buy spare parts from Mack to support the truck brand in Nigeria. We sold the last Mack truck in Nigeria. No other auto company aw we speak has brought any Mack truck into the country. We are still supporting the brand. Some of my teams are in big oil and gas companies in the South-South catering to their Mack trucks. Our mission is to be one of the best auto solution providers with perfect after-sale service in the country. So we still support every brand that we have done in the past with after-sale service. That way, it will be easier for us to shift the customers to our own newer brand. It is the support they are buying now, not the brand.
Are the Mack trucks sold eight years ago still on the road in Nigeria?
Yes, they’re still on the road. I sold 30 Mack trucks last month.
Are you partnering other automakers to produce the LSM brand of vehicles?
We are partnering reputable automakers. For us at the LSM, we are careful not to select as partners anyone not in the top three of the segment of vehicle we’re doing in that country. For instance, in the our pickup segment, we are going to China for the selection of partners. Our target is for the first or the second in that country’s pickup.
Where are you in the CNG buses now?
For the CNG buses, we are assembling in our own brand name LSM. This is a new opportunity. It was a big risk we took; but it’s a risk that is paying off because we believe in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We knew when he said fuel subsidy was gone, the next thing would be CNG-powered vehicles. It was clear that Nigerians would not run to electric vehicles as an immediate option.
Electric vehicles can only be driven by solar in this country. The high inflation has knocked off the national electricity grid to drive the EVs. You need an investment of over N300 million to have a commercial electric charging station. How many Nigerians can afford this?
Are you saying Nigeria is not ripe for electric vehicles?
Nigeria is ripe for EVs but we’re not yet there. But we’re there on CNG, with the government leading the initiative and abundance of natural gas. I see a lot CNG stations fast coming up. Lagos, Benin, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Ilorin among others are cities where CNG refilling stations are springing up.
The CNG idea is taking shape. A trip to the South-East now costs N53,000 per person (I was told). But with N72,000 of CNG, you can almost fill the tank of a bus and drive to the East conveniently. With a mass transit CNG bus, you can take a large number of people to a 400km destination on N72,000 worth of CNG. You cannot get that anywhere.
Apart from the high capacity CNG buses, our 18-seater and 11-seater will come out early next year. Thereafter, we will move into the passenger vehicles.
Are you planning to go into the coaches for long distance travel?
We missed the business this year. It requires adequate planning. We intend to go into it next year. It should be around September next year in preparation for the end of the year travels.
How did your father, founder of LSM, Alhaji Olanrewaju Shittu, start the automobile business?
He started the automobile business small, with three vehicles at Aguda, in the Surulere area of Lagos.
It was from a shoe business that he switched over to the auto business.
In starting, he travelled with his wife out of the country to buy things including vehicles around 1978. He bought the vehicles in Valencia, Spain.
Shoe and car business are not related. How did he suddenly develop interest in automobile business?
He just felt like changing his line of business. It was Debasco Motors Chairman, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, that put him through. Debasco was a big auto company in Lagos at that time.
My father was seen as creditworthy, so people trusted him and were always willing to give him vehicles on credit.
He would go to Ogbomosho to buy six vehicles, by would come back to Lagos with additional six vehicles on credit. They had no doubt that he would pay back quickly.
Sometimes, he would travel as far as Kaduna to buy 12 cars from PAN, he would be the last driving the last vehicle while others were ahead driving all the way to Lagos.
This gave the auto company the strength to grow fast from the three vehicles he started with.
Which brand gave him a breakthrough?
It’s Daewoo and Rolls Royce that gave him a real breakthrough. That is why we have the signs of the two brands engraved on the wall of the LSM office at Alaka Lagos.
Lanre Shittu Motors was the only one selling the Rolls Royce then. That was in the 1990s.
Was he a car freak?
Yes, he loved cars. He used to have a Rolls Royce. But no longer had it before he died. What he had was a Mercedes-Benz Mayback. His car garage was not packed full. Even though he was a car dealer, he changed his main car every 10 years. He was a very prudent man. At the beginning of his adult life, he had many cars; in the middle, he was prudent It was at the end that he bought some flashy cars such as Lexus L600, MayBack 650 engine – at that time only he and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari had that car. He bought the car then because there were three weddings in the family. By time he died, the car had only ran 600 miles. He also had a Ford Expedition, which he liked to drive. He had a Lexus LX570 First Edition almost the same time.
He was a family-oriented man.
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Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence (plus photos)
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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Brains, Innovation as Young minds Steal Spotlight at Toyota Show Mobility Challenge
Brains, Innovation as Young minds Steal Spotlight at Toyota Show Mobility Challenge
The future of mobility took centre stage at the Toyota Motor Show in Lagos on Wednesday as brilliant young Nigerians showcased their intellect, creativity and passion for innovation in a thrilling debate and quiz competition organised by Toyota Nigeria Limited.
The highlight of the event held at The Podium Lekki was a fiercely contested debate between two teams of young participants who impressed judges and spectators alike with their eloquence, confidence and ability to marshal convincing arguments.
After a closely fought contest, Team A, comprising Robinson Goodness, Esabu Blessing and Igbayisemore Tony, emerged victorious, narrowly defeating Team B made up of Akinware Breakthrough, Yusuf Rahimat and Dawn Ijaware.
The winning team received a cash prize of N600,000, while the runners-up went home with N300,000.
The quiz competition also generated excitement, with six contestants battling through multiple rounds of questions. Three participants were eliminated in the opening stages before the contest narrowed to a gripping final round focused largely on Toyota vehicle models and automotive knowledge.
The audience watched in admiration as the finalists displayed remarkable speed, accuracy and composure in their efforts to outsmart one another.
At the end of the contest, Feyisetan Tolase Emmanuel emerged champion and received N250,000, while Ayorinde Bolarinwa secured second place and was rewarded with N150,000.
Award-winning actor/social advocate, Kate Henshaw, who chaired the panel of judges, praised the contestants for their impressive performances and commitment to learning.
She expressed delight at the confidence, intelligence and creativity displayed by the young people, adding that the future remained bright when knowledge and innovation are encouraged.
Also on the panel was Toyota Nigeria Limited’s Head of Dealer Development and Special Duties, Henry Ojuoko, who said the programme reflected Toyota’s commitment to nurturing future innovators.
According to him, beyond selling vehicles, the TNL wants to inspire curiosity and encourage young Nigerians to explore opportunities in technology, mobility and innovation.
According to the organisers, the second day of the exhibition was deliberately dedicated to students and young professionals as part of efforts to raise awareness about automotive innovation and stimulate youth participation in discussions around the future of transportation.
The day’s activities also featured Somadina Anyama popularly called Soma – TV personality/brand influencer/actor, who joined the panel and Toyota team in the interactive section.
The Toyota Motor Show, which commenced on June 2, is the third edition of the exhibition organised by Toyota Nigeria Limited. The four-day event offers visitors opportunities to explore the company’s latest vehicle models, participate in interactive sessions, enjoy test drives and access free vehicle diagnostic services.
Visitors also experienced Toyota’s latest mobility solutions while test-driving selected models including the Camry, RAV4 and Hilux, among others.
The exhibition will conclude on Saturday with another live recording of Toyota’s PodCARst, featuring social media influencer Ride With Mee, alongside entertainment activities, outdoor games, prizes and additional test-drive sessions.
Toyota Nigeria said the event underscores its commitment to deepening engagement with customers and the wider public through education, innovation and direct interaction with the brand.
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Nigeria Must Build, Not Just Import Vehicles, Oyeyemi Tells FG as Auto Policy Review Begins
Nigeria Must Build, Not Just Import Vehicles, Oyeyemi Tells FG as Auto Policy Review Begins
The Federal Government has commenced a fresh review of Nigeria’s automotive policy to accommodate emerging technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs), compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered vehicles and other alternative energy solutions, even as stakeholders have called for a more consistent policy framework that prioritises local manufacturing and value creation.
The development was disclosed at the 30th anniversary celebration of Motoring World International in Lagos, where industry leaders highlighted the urgent need to reposition Nigeria’s automotive sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, represented by the ministry’s Desk Officer for the Auto Industry, Samuel Adetoro, said the ongoing policy review is aimed at aligning Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem with global trends in sustainable mobility and industrial development.
According to the minister, the automotive industry remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda with the capacity to generate employment, attract investments, deepen local manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported vehicles.
She explained that while the existing automotive policy had provided a framework for vehicle assembly operations, rapid technological advancements and changing global realities made it necessary to update the policy to address current and future transportation needs.
“The Ministry is working closely with stakeholders on the review of the National Automotive Industry Development Framework to ensure that it responds effectively to emerging realities, including electric mobility, CNG vehicles, automotive software development, smart manufacturing and green transportation technologies,” she said.
Oduwole added that the government is seeking to create an enabling environment that will encourage local production and assembly of alternative-fuel vehicles, while strengthening local content development, technology transfer, research and development, and the competitiveness of Nigerian automotive manufacturers.
She stressed that collaboration between government and the private sector would be crucial to building an automotive ecosystem capable of serving both domestic and regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The review comes amid the prolonged delay in the passage of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) Bill, which is intended to provide a legislative and regulatory framework for investors in the sector.
The bill, passed by the Eighth National Assembly, was denied presidential assent and has remained in limbo for more than a decade.
Speaking at the event, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, urged the Federal Government to adopt a long-term and consistent automotive industry policy focused on domestic manufacturing rather than revenue generation through vehicle import duties.
Oyeyemi, who chaired the occasion and is also President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), said Nigeria possesses one of Africa’s largest automotive markets, supported by a population of over 240 million people, an estimated vehicle fleet of 21 million and more than 204,000 kilometres of road network.
However, he lamented that policy inconsistencies and weak support for local manufacturers had prevented the country from fully harnessing its vast potential.
He noted that repeated reviews of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan and related regulatory frameworks had failed to generate sustained industrial momentum, forcing investors to enter and exit the sector while several assembly plants struggled to survive.
According to him, Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imported used vehicles despite its enormous capacity for vehicle assembly, component manufacturing, automotive financing and electric vehicle infrastructure development.
Also speaking, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, represented by the council’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Susan Bisong-Taiwo, called for stronger collaboration among government, industry stakeholders and the media to accelerate automotive industrialisation.
He said the council is implementing initiatives in electric vehicle development, CNG conversion, local content promotion, component manufacturing, skills acquisition and strategic partnerships aimed at transforming Nigeria from a vehicle-consuming nation into a leading automotive manufacturing hub in Africa.
Osanipin said the automotive industry is at a critical turning point globally, with innovations in electric mobility, alternative fuels, smart manufacturing and digital technologies redefining the future of transportation. He stressed that Nigeria must move swiftly to position itself as a key player in the evolving automotive landscape rather than remain a passive consumer of imported technologies.
According to him, the NADDC is pursuing strategic programmes designed to deepen local capacity, strengthen the automotive value chain and create employment opportunities for Nigerians. These initiatives, he noted, include support for local component manufacturing, skills development, research and innovation, as well as partnerships aimed at accelerating the adoption of cleaner and more efficient vehicle technologies.
“The future of mobility is already here, and it is being driven by innovation, sustainability and collaboration. Nigeria must not be left behind. Through deliberate policies, strategic investments and strong partnerships among government, industry players and the media, we can transform our nation from a vehicle-consuming market into a competitive automotive manufacturing and innovation hub for Africa,” Osanipin said.
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