The Lagos State Government has unveiled 11 electric buses as part of efforts to expand cleaner public transportation and reduce carbon emissions across the state.
The buses, provided by Oando Clean Energy Limited in partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), are the first batch of a 50-bus commitment under the current phase of the project.
The initiative is expected to support the eventual deployment of 552 electric buses across Lagos public transport corridors.
According to a statement shared by LAMATA on Tuesday, the project began with the introduction of two pilot electric buses in 2023.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the transition to cleaner energy was necessary to meet the transportation needs of the state’s growing population and economy.
He said the government was committed to sustainable transportation, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility as part of its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
LAMATA Managing Director, Abimbola Akinajo, said the partnership with Oando was producing practical results towards modernising public transportation.
She noted that electric buses would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and minimise noise pollution.
Oando Clean Energy Limited President and Chief Executive Officer, Ademola Ogunbanjo, described the development as a major step towards expanding electric mobility in Nigeria and Africa.
He said the project would go beyond introducing electric buses to developing a local electric mobility ecosystem, including charging stations, maintenance facilities, technical training, spare-parts supply and eventual local vehicle assembly.
Ogunbanjo said the partnership between LAMATA and Oando began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2022.
He explained that the two pilot buses deployed in 2023 helped the partners test the technology, assess operational performance and evaluate public acceptance before expanding the project.
The initiative also has financial and technical support from the Bank of Industry, Wema Bank and Chinese vehicle manufacturer Yutong, with potential funding partnerships involving the Africa Finance Corporation and the International Finance Corporation.
Ogunbanjo expressed confidence that the Lagos project could serve as a model for other parts of Nigeria.
The additional buses are expected to provide further operational experience as Lagos works towards expanding electric mobility and building a more sustainable public transport system.
