LSM introduces locally-assembled compressed natural gas buses

Lanre Shittu Motors has rolled out a Nigeria-assembled 100 per cent compressed natural gas-powered luxury buses.

The company also says it is willing to support those buying large fleets including state governments with the installation of mobile CNG stations across different locations.

Speaking in Lagos on the buses, Managing Director, Lanre Shittu Motors, Taiwo Shittu, said the CNG vehicles are being assembled at the Amuwo Odofin assembly plant, Lagos.

The LSM MD who spoke along with the Deputy Managing Director of the company, Lukman Shittu, said 100 units of the buses coming in two specifications would be introduced in the first phase to support President Bola Tinubu’s CNG initiative of easing public transportation and cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking on the new CNG vehicles, the LSM MD, Taiwo Shittu, said the city bus was built with seven cylinders and could travel for 450-500 kilometres before recharge.

According to him, the airport bus, also built with seven CNG cylinders, has a lot of space for boxes and two wheelchairs like the city bus.

He explained that the LSM-branded CNG bus would guarantee a complete 70 per cent reduction in operation costs.

He said: “For instance, while the CNG costs N200-N230/kg, diesel is sold from N1,200 to N1,400/litre, depending on the state you are buying from. While some drivers have the habit of siphoning fuel from a vehicle for selling or using it elsewhere, this cannot happen with CNG.

Deputy Managing Director of the company, Lukman Shittu, said the company was willing to install mobile CNG stations across different locations, especially for large fleet buyers.

He said: “We can deploy mobile CNG stations across different locations; we can install them for people around their locations.”

He explained that the company had also embarked on the training of its workers in the CNG technology using its technical partners.