Local assembler, NADDC, PiCNG partner on technicians’ training

Local assembler, Lanre Shittu Motors, has partnered with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas to facilitate training for the conversion of petrol vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Managing Director of the company, Taiwo Shittu.

The automobile company also said it had provided special service tools for auto technicians in the country.

To complement the training, Lanre Shittu Motors also provided the participants with special service tools and battery-powered hand-drilling machines, worth about N400,000 each.

According to the firm, over 45 participants at the first phase of the training held between September 16 to 20 at the NADDC centre in Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, included members of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association and representatives of the Ekiti State University. The trainees were selected from all the local governments in the state.

Managing Director of LSM, Taiwo Shittu, commended President Bola Tinubu for the CNG initiative that had energised the nation’s auto industry, adding that it would reduce the cost of public transportation and boost economic activities.

He further said that the company remained committed to facilitating the growth of the local auto industry by collaborating with the NADDC in training technicians and providing them with modern tools.

He said: “This is not the first time we are doing this, as we have been doing it for many years. It is our way of giving back to society and ensuring that auto technicians keep abreast with recent developments in the industry, especially with the introduction of compressed natural gas technology.

“We have just unveiled our LSM-branded full CNG buses, which are the first full CNG buses in the country, for airport shuttle and city operations, and we are also investing in the provision of mobile CNG stations.”

Some of the LSM technical personnel, who were also trained technicians were the Car Workshop Manager, Akinyemi Jamiu, and the Technical Service Advisor, OluwasegunAkanbi.

The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, in Ekiti, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, noted, “The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and the state government have ensured that Ekiti State is in the forefront of this endeavour and we continue to ensure that our people get the best in terms of the advantages.

“CNG is not strange to us, we are just adding gas for mobile vehicles. We are already in a good position as far as CNG is concerned. Use of CNG will enable our people to have access to cheaper fuel to power their vehicles.”

The NADDC Director General, Joseph Osanipin, stated that the training was aimed at ensuring capacity building and skill upgrades for technicians and youths to enable them to cope with the dynamic automotive industry.

Osanipin said that the President established the PiCNG in furtherance of his commitment to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, adding that there were a lot of benefits along the CNG value chain.