…Project will cut transport costs, complement CNG drive – Ogunyemi

The Ondo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an information technology firm, ADMINSERV, to introduce electric vehicle (EV) buses and charging infrastructure towards the bid to reduce transportation costs across the state.

With the initiative designed to commence with the deployment of five electric buses, each valued at N180 million, the project will also involve the installation of charging stations at selected bus stops in Akure, the state capital, with plans to extend the facilities to other local council areas of the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Transport, Olumuyiwa Ogunyemi, disclosed this during the MoU signing ceremony, describing the initiative as a pioneering project in the state.

Ogunyemi stated that the partnership was designed to address rising transportation costs while providing charging infrastructure for individuals and organisations using electric vehicles.

According to him, the facilities will not be restricted to the company’s buses, as other electric vehicle owners will also be able to access the charging stations.

Ogunyemi stressed that the state government was adopting electric mobility alongside compressed natural gas (CNG) as part of efforts to address the rising cost of transportation.

“This is the first thing that is happening in Ondo State. They want to use those bus stops as charging points for electric vehicles. This would reduce the cost of transportation drastically,” Ogunyemi said.

The Transport Adviser stated that the move followed discussions among transport commissioners, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Presidential Implementation Committee on CNG and electric vehicles on the adoption of alternative energy solutions for transportation.

Ogunyemi said the government was also developing CNG infrastructure, including facilities at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and opposite an NNPC facility in Ore, to improve access to alternative fuel options across the state’s three senatorial districts.

The Managing Director of ADMINSERV, Peter Nnamani, said the company was established in 2025 to develop technology-driven solutions for transportation, including an artificial intelligence-enabled application to improve mobility in Ondo State.

He said the initiative would address the cost of transportation, punctuality, environmental pollution and security through an integrated electric bus system and digital monitoring. Nnamani said the company estimated that monthly transportation costs could drop from about N9,000 to between N5,000 and N6,000 per user under the proposed system.

He added that the application would enable the monitoring of buses and drivers, while the project would create employment opportunities through the construction and management of charging facilities and the recruitment of bus drivers.

The ADMINSERV Managing Director said the buses would operate on scheduled routes to reduce waiting times and improve punctuality, adding that the Ondo project was the company’s first in Nigeria.