Various categories of vehicles including intra-city long buses, cars, heavy duty trucks produced by leading indigenous auto manufacturer, the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Company Limited, were on Thursday commissioned at the company’s plant in Nnewi, Ananmbra State.
The vehicles, which were manufactured at IVM in Nnewi plant, and powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) were test-driven by a team of Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN) national and state delegates and other stakeholders who came to grace the historic event.
The commissioning ceremony was led by the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye.
The unique feature of the Innoson LNG/CNG Gas vehicles, according to the head of Corporate Communications, IVM, Cornel Osigwe, is its ability to make use of CNG which is more affordable than diesel and petrol.
Speaking at the commissioning, Otunba Francis Meshioye commended Innoson for the efforts put so far, to see that the vehicles were manufactured right in the Nnewi plant.
Meshioye who said that he was satisfied with what he saw during inspection, urged Nigerians to give patronage and support to IVM.
The MAN President applauded Innoson for introducing CNG and LNG into vehicle production, a situation he confirmed the cost of transportation of goods and passengers.
Emphasising on cost reduction that gas vehicles will bring, Otunba Meshioye said “For any trailer that wants to come from Lagos down to this side with the usual diesel or petrol, it will take about N800,000 for the whole journey but with CNG, it would be reduced to about N300, 000. Whichever way you will be saving about N500, 000 minimally by using gas. We do not need to go overseas to import the gas. We can produce them locally. It will also create employment because money saved can now go to another investment.
If we patronise locally manufactured vehicles, it will create more jobs and if we want to aggregate the benefits to industrial growth, there will be jobs, proper usage of funds and there will be empowerment and saving of forex. Put together you will find out that the contribution to GDP will be higher. If you cascade it down to support the value chain, it will create other small value chain that will support the industry. This is very interesting and encouraging.
“If you want to encourage local business, the government should patronise it and stop importation. It is worth Patronising so that our economy can be better. Innoson has all it takes to do the job”, the MAN president advised.
Also speaking, chairman, Innoson Group of Companies, Chief, Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma said they are now doing CNG and LNG run vehicles and that they are also targeting electric vehicles, so that the price of running vehicles will be cheaper.
On the quality, Chukwuma said “It is durable and better than others. We have many customers in Benin. 80 per cent of vehicles in Benin are gas vehicles. Now that we have commissioned it, we will move to the next level.
While calling on Nigerians to Patronise Nigerian made products, he said “my factory has 7, 500 workers. I went into CNG and LNG powered vehicles because the fuel price is increasing, the only solution is gas. It is 60 per cent cheaper. That is why I made the choice for people to use 80 per cent of the people in Benin who are using gas. We do electric vehicles and the battery will be produced in Nigeria.
Also commending Innoson innovation in the manufacture of gas vehicles, MAN, South East Chairman, Lady Ada Chukwudozie said Innoson is the pride of manufacturing in Nigeria.
Calling on Nigerians to support and Patronise Innoson, she emphasised that what Innoson is doing is manufacturing and not just mere vehicle assembly.
“Now we know that we have a gas reservoir in Anambra. It is a legacy project. With this development, the gas that is in abundance in Anambra can be applied to vehicles. He is the pride of manufacturers and has done very well. We have gone round and seen for ourselves”, Lady Chukwudo.
Some of the vehicles commissioned include: Intra-city buses (IVM 6125), IVM Smart 1.5itre engine car, heavy duty trucks etc.
