Innocent Chukwuma, managing director and chief executive
officer (CEO) of Innoson Motors, has urged Nigerians to “clam down”, exercise
patience and support President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Chukwuma spoke on Thursday when he visited Tinubu at the presidential
villa.
The businessman’s visit comes amid nationwide protests over
Nigeria’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship.
The demonstrations had led to violence and widespread
property destruction in some places in the north.
Speaking with state house correspondents, the CEO expressed
his confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, assuring that a better Nigeria would
emerge under his guidance.
“At times like this, I decided to visit Mr. president and
encourage him. People must be patient. This Mr. president, I know how he
behaves. Let everybody calm down for him, they will see a better Nigeria from
Tinubu,” Chukwuma said.
He stressed the importance of preserving public
infrastructure, asserting that the government is committed to improving the
nation’s future.
“Let everybody be
patient because everybody knows that the former government sold oil, collected
the money and did not supply but this government is just supplying but not
getting the money,” he said.
“So let’s give him a chance, everything will be okay. The
way I see him, he wants the best for this country, so I am encouraging everyone
to be patient and not destroy public infrastructure.
“There is no benefit in destroying our things. Our benefit
is to be calm and allow him to plan for the future of this country.”
Chukwuma also discussed Innoson Motors’ pioneering work in
compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, which was initiated two years ago.
He said there are ongoing partnerships between the government
and Innoson Motors, promising that the brand would soon be visible nationwide.
‘CNG BUSES WILL HIT
THE ROADS SOON’
The Innoson Motors boss expressed confidence that the
government’s focus on CNG is a transformative initiative for Nigeria, pledging
that CNG buses will soon be on the roads.
“I started CNG about two years ago, I was the first to start
it in Nigeria. My visit here today is on CNG vehicle issues, I have discussed
with them and in a short time the masses will see CNG buses on the road,” the
CEO said.
“[The] government’s
initiatives on CNG is the best idea for this country because there are a lot of
benefits and it was those benefits I saw that led me to start the factory to
produce vehicles on CNG.
“I had started producing CNG vehicles before the
announcement. For those that have used CNG vehicles, they will agree it is the
way forward for this nation.”
The federal government started canvassing for the adoption
of CNG after the president announced the end of subsidised premium motor spirit
(PMS), also known as petrol, on May 29, 2023.
TINUBU’S CNG DRIVE
On August 19, 2023, Tinubu announced the establishment of
the CNG initiative. Also, on July 31, 2023, Tinubu said his administration made
provision to invest N100 billion in the acquisition of 3,000 units of 20-seater
buses powered by CNG.
Two months later, the federal government announced that
value-added tax (VAT) would be waived on CNG bus purchases, with plans to waive
duty on parts.
Recently in May, the federal executive council (FEC)
directed all agencies to procure CNG-powered vehicles.
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), on August 7, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to convert all its operational vehicles to CNG.
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