Enugu State government settles for locally assembled mass transit buses for its city shuttle project. Commuters and state officials revel that the novel transportation system is designed to alleviate difficulties associated with the sector.

The government is set to drive its mass transit commuter project tagged the ‘Coal City Shuttle’ with made-in-Nigeria buses. The project, according to the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Transportation, Prince Emeka Mamah, is expected to take off with about 30 purpose-built long buses from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Fully air-conditioned and already painted dark red, the Innoson-built buses are expected to ply designated routes across the state capital, connecting major streets and the outskirts. Destinations will include Garki, Emene, Abakpa, New Market and Otukozala, among others to generally alleviate commuting problems in the coal city.

This how our economy can move forward, do you know how many jobs this will create for my people back at nnewi my home town,  interestingly, part of the land where innoson built his vehicle PLANT was sold to him by my Dad cause he needed a huge parcel of LAND TO BUILD THe plant

Excellent development. This is how we can launch Nigeria into the economic boom we have desired for so long.

BTW, since Enugu is rich in coal deposits, why not build coal fired power plants to generate power for the state's consumption. If a state like Enugu can achieve 100% power, it will be much easier to get committed investors and create jobs.

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

This should generate lots of revenue. Great move. Now let's keep the foreign contractors out of this,

Great act of patriotism.

Seun:

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

Current price versus future value of business?

Iam liking

It would still be a good idea, even if the buses manufactured in Nigeria are more expensive than the imported ones, as it would help Nigerian industry and create employment.

Seun:

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

Good for Enugu State if this ended up being the cheapest they could find subject to whatever quality constraints they have.

BTW, Innoson assembles knockdown kits of Chinese buses, they don't build buses from scratch.

Seun:

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

What could be foolish in keeping forex and jobs within your shores? Even if these buses are half the quality of imported ones and cost twice as much, they are still a good buy. People want decent means of transportation and are not necessarily seeking to shuttle in first grade Marcopolo buses, if shuttling decently and safely translates to saving your country's forex and keeping jobs within your shores, how does that equate foolishness?

ekt_bear:

BTW, Innoson assembles knockdown kits of Chinese buses, they don't build buses from scratch.

considering the fact that these buses could have been completed and shipped down our shores, forgive us for using the word 'built' instead of assembled.

Whether built or assembled it is still better than importing whole buses

nice move , at least with time they can improve on its quality and price as more busses are sold , Thank God we are alive to witness the great moment in nigeria economy where we dont have to import rather manufacture and create more jobs for our people. pls Sullivan should also patronize the local anamco mercedes assembly plant in emene enugu.

190:

AS LONG AS AGBERO DONT TAKE OVER THE BUSES - NO WAHALA

ELSE PEOPLE WOULD QUIETLY CONTINUE WITH THEIR BIKES

Seun:

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

I doesn't gets your point (all grammatical blunders are intentional).

A lesson for other states to emulate.

nice one

Good move, i do not see why lagos and other states would prefer to import buses when innoson is there, really

we should encourage this company and not discourage them

moreover come to think of it, the over all cost of the buses brought in nigeria would be alot cheaper than imported one

cost of shipment

exchange rate

cost of spare parts since innoson is in nigeria and not abroad

cost of repair

etc

wesley80:


 What could be foolish in keeping forex and jobs within your shores? Even if these buses are half the quality of imported ones and cost twice as much, they are still a good buy. People want decent means of transportation and are not necessarily seeking to shuttle in first grade Marcopolo buses, if shuttling decently and safely translates to saving your country's forex and keeping jobs within your shores, how does that equate foolishness?

supported +10

Nice one there,coming from the enugu state govt,
this could transform the automobile industry in nigeria,lets patronise our own

Truely charity is beginning at home, if the govt can not patronise the local manufacturers, how can they expect the citizens to do same. the likes of zinox is improving daily because of the level of support they are getting from the govt and fellow Nigerians. I expect more from the fed govt. kudos to chime.

Now that is a welcome development. Kudos to the Government of Enugu State, finally someone is thinking about the masses/employment/indigenous technology.

This is the type of news we should be hear about Nigeria, It means there is a future for us after all.

Will it last?

efisher:

Excellent development. This is how we can launch Nigeria into the economic boom we have desired for so long.

BTW, since Enugu is rich in coal deposits, why not build coal fired power plants to generate power for the state's consumption. If a state like Enugu can achieve 100% power, it will be much easier to get committed investors and create jobs.

GEJ just awarded a contract for the feasibility study of a coal fired power plant in Enugu to be completed in two years time. The coal power project was abandoned in 1984 due to sentiments and the whole country has been suffering power shortage since them. From 900,000 tons (p.a) of production before the civil, the coal mines production was reduced to 30,000 (p.a) until it was finally closed in late eighties. Even the rail lines that carried the coal is presently grounded.

I saw the busses in Enugu and they looked really beautiful. i just hope Northern States governors are watching?

From a distance the buses look descent enough. Hope this is sustainable?

Good move, worth of emulation.

nice job, if the buses are durable and comfortable for passengers, then he has done well to patronize a made or assembled in Nigeria product, therebye contributing positively to our economy, good move i must say

this is one of the ways we can become a producer nation instead of a consumer only. hw do we generate employment if we criticize our our product. the earlier we start buying and investing in made in Nigeria product, the better for the future of this country.

Seun:

If those were not the best buses they could get for the price, then this is probably foolish. Source?

Like it or not , it's a sensible move and patriotic of Enugu state, appreciate a geniune move for once, The advantages of buying internally manufactured product overweight exporting same. Holland and Belgium spends billions of euro's patronising Van Hool because its their joint investment to produce buses for their transportation sectors and is not the best bus on the road.

Vehicle assemblage is a standard procedure, what I use to see at General Motor Apapa is not different from what I saw in Ford, Opel, DAF in Europe., If they work on the roads a Nigerian manufactured vehicle can withstand any workloads.

nice move,truly made in 9ja

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM), with a plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, is taking the Nigerian economy to another level by manufacturing vehicles in the country. The Enugu State government has also adopted the indigenous vehicle manufacturer for use in the government initiated cab scheme introduced a few years ago. At the initial stage of the scheme, the government had used cars such as: Suzuki Alto and Nissan Sunny, but with the manufacturing of such useful vehicles in Nigeria, it decided to cuddle IVM with its made-in-Nigeria buses.

The state government, as part of its agreement with IVM, will officially take off with an initial batch of at least 30 purpose-built long buses from the company as part of the plan to give Enugu commuters a befitting mass transit system. Christened ‘Coal City Shuttle’, the 30 long buses produced by IVM are part of government’s four-point agenda to the people of Enugu. Also, Innoson is producing a fleet of refuse compactor trucks for the state waste management authority. The Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Transportation, Prince Emeka Mamah, in an interview with newsmen said the Coal City Shuttle was not just another transport scheme, but was designed to be innovative, efficiently managed and benefit from relevant modern technologies. Mamah stated that the shuttle would have been flagged off earlier, but for the insistence of those midwifing the project, on ensuring that relevant on-board and ground infrastructure, as well as supports services are fully in place before the vehicles hit Enugu roads. He said, “Coal City Shuttle is a project embarked on by the Enugu State Government in accordance with a key item in Governor Sullivan Chime’s four-point agenda, which is to give commuters in the state and the Coal City in particular, the best transportation system. So, you can say it is part of the dividends of democracy for the people of Enugu State”.

In a bid to ensure that the vehicle production is highly rated in the automobile industry and mets international standards, turnstiles, automated mechanical devices that control entrance into halls, stadia and other enclosed places are being installed on the Innoson buses. The barrier is expected to play the dual role of controlling the entry and exit of the ticket-bearing passengers, while at the same time counting them as they board. Fully air-conditioned and already painted dark red, the Innoson-built buses are expected to ply designated routes across the city, connecting major streets and the outskirts. Destinations will include Garki, Emene, Abakpa, New Market and Otukozala among others.

Commenting on the choice of locally made buses, Mamah said the Sullivan Chime-led state government considered the obvious advantages the Innoson buses have over imported brands and will provide reliable aftersales back-up. Besides, the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, described the buses as strong, reliable and durable stressing that the buses would not have problems on Enugu roads, “because we are on ground with a very solid arrangement for after-sales service and replacement parts”.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/features/7032.html

nice move,truly made in 9ja

There is great excitement as Enugu State government settles for locally assembled mass transit buses for its city shuttle project. Commuters and state officials revel that the novel transportation system is designed to alleviate difficulties associated with the sector. OLAOLU OLUSINA writes

Enugu State government is set to drive its mass transit commuter project tagged the ‘Coal City Shuttle’ with made-in-Nigeria buses. The project, according to the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Transportation, Prince Emeka Mamah, is expected to take off with about 30 purpose-built long buses from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Fully air-conditioned and already painted dark red, the Innoson-built buses are expected to ply designated routes across the state capital, connecting major streets and the outskirts. Destinations will include Garki, Emene, Abakpa, New Market and Otukozala, among others to generally alleviate commuting problems in the coal city.

THISDAY gathered that turnstiles, automated mechanical devices that control entrance into halls, stadia, and other enclosed places, are being installed on the Innoson buses. The barrier is expected to play the dual role of controlling the entry/exit of the ticket-bearing passengers, while at the same time counting them as they board.

Innoson, it was gathered, has also produced for the state waste management authority, a fleet of refuse compactor trucks. Mamah, who disclosed that the project is part of the plan to give Enugu a befitting mass transit system, noted that the Coal City Shuttle would not be just another transport scheme, but one that has been designed to be innovative, efficiently managed and benefit from relevant modern technologies.

“Coal City Shuttle is a project embarked on by the Enugu State Government in accordance with a key item in Governor Sullivan Chime’s four-point agenda, which is to give commuters in the state and the Coal City in particular, the best transportation system. So, you can say it is part of the dividends of democracy for the people of Enugu State, ” he stated.

Mamah said the Sullivan Chime-led administration in the state considered the obvious advantages the Innoson buses have over imported brands, especially with its reliable after-sales back-up. He noted that ensuring that the vehicles have hitch-free operations through a solid maintenance arrangement is key to the success of the new project.

Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwum, is quite excited at the choice of the state government, stating that the buses are very strong, reliable and durable.

He added that the buses from his company would not have problems on the roads because “we are on ground with a very solid arrangement for after-sales service and replacement parts.”
According to him, “You will see that the Innoson buses will do well.

The performance of the buses will prove what we have been saying about the vehicles. They are good. Moreover, the type of workshop we have built in Enugu for Coal City Shuttle will be built for any other state or company anywhere in Nigeria that places a large order with Innoson for the buses or the refuse compactor trucks.”

Also reacting to the development, NAMA, the association of vehicle manufacturers in Nigeria lauded Governor Chime and urged other governors and decision makers at the federal level to take a cue from him.

Executive Director, NAMA, Mr. Arthur Madueke, maintained that sourcing vehicles locally impacts positively on employment, industrial growth and economic development generally.
“Therefore, I wish to urge other governors, particularly Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State where Innoson auto plant is located, to emulate the Enugu State example.

Obi seems to be a progressive governor, but I do not know why after the commissioning of the plant last year by President Goodluck Jonathan, he has not embarked on any project that will take vehicles from the Nnewi plant,” Madueke stated.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/enugu-introduces-new-coal-city-shuttle-buses/86987/