OMAA gas powered vehicle

By Daniels Ekugo

The use of natural gas to power vehicles will lead to 60 per cent savings on cost of fuel, Chief Executive Officer of OMAA, Chinedu Oguegbu, has said.

He urged Nigerians to develop an interest in using gas-powered vehicles in order to cut down on carbon emissions and save the environment.

Oguegbu stated this at the recent Nigeria Auto Journalists Association’s (NAJA) Annual training and capacity building workshop held in Lagos during his technical presentation of the opportunities in the use of natural gas vehicles.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Migration to Electric Vehicles and Gas-powered Vehicles; Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria’.

As one of the training facilitators, Oguegbu said stressed the importance of natural gas in the world, expected to form 26 per cent of the energy mix by 2040.

The boss of OMAA bus manufacturer said, “Government policies and technological advancements have led to the focus on increasing the output of electric vehicles (EVs) and natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Transportation currently accounts for 15 per cent of carbon emissions and vehicles represent a major part of this figure.”

He added, “With Nigeria committing to the Paris Agreement to reduce the rate of climate change globally, there is an increased push by the government to promote more environmentally friendly vehicles: EVs, NGVs and hydrogen.

“The advantages of using natural gas include up to 60 per cent savings in the cost of fuel relative to other options like diesel and petrol, and up to 90 per cent reduction in knocks and carbon emission for a healthier, cleaner and more environmentally friendly fuel alternative.

“Another opportunity lies in the development of export business with other African markets, thanks to the implementation of AfCFTA.”

According to Oguegbu, mass education of the public as well as consistent government policy is also required in order to promote investments in natural gas vehicle assembly and production in Nigeria.

According to him, OMAA is one of the pioneers in this field of local assembly of gas-powered vehicles.

From its facility in Igbo Ukwu, Anambra State, OMAA provides sustainable energy and mobility solutions to address today’s environmental challenges, while empowering people to create rugged solutions that are relevant to their local economy.

The company launched the first local assembled, dual-fuel, natural gas-powered commercial buses in Nigeria earlier this year.

The event was sponsored by the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Weststar Associates Limited (Mercedes brand), Jet Systems Limited (assemblers of Jet brands of electric vehicles), and Autochek Africa (an online automotive marketing and financing option provider).

Other sponsors are Stallion Motors, CFAO Motors, Coscharis Motors, OMAA, Kojo Motors (owners of Yutong electric buses) and the Federal Roads Safety Commission.