.png)
By Madu Obi
An indigenous energy company at Igbo Ukwu, Anambra State, has begun the production of vehicles, making it the second one after Innoson Motors Manufacturing company based in Nnewi.
The new company, OMAA, made history by rolling out Nigeria’s first locally assembled natural gas-powered buses.
It manufactures factory-fitted dual-fuel vehicles to meet the growing demand of vehicles that run on cleaner energy sources within Nigeria and across Africa.
The roll out took place at its facility in the presence of Dr. Ishaku Abner, Technical Assistant (Downstream) to the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Pat Igwebuike, Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Legal Matters, and Dr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, Chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the founder and CEO of OMAA, Mr. Chinedu Oguegbu said Nigeria is about to witness a revolution.
At the impressive ceremony, the company showcased its facilities and demonstrated its ability to cater to energy demands for the transportation and energy industry with natural gas.
"The 'Decade of Gas’ is the federal government’s commitment to diversify the nation’s economy, and see Nigeria develop and commercialize its gas resources."
“This is the beginning of a trend that will revolutionize, not just the transportation , but the energy industry in Nigeria, by accelerating utilisation of the abundant natural gas resources we are endowed with."
“That way, we will be localizing more components, up-skilling staff and contributing to the burgeoning automotive ecosystem."
“By switching to CKD, we will end up creating more jobs for the teeming youth population in the country. It is a part of our overall policy where we commit to training and retraining our people."
"Sourcing components in-country also has a positive impact on the local supply chain as capacity utilisation, jobs, value addition, all move in the right direction,” he added.
Oguegbu said OMAA is also committed to job creation, noting that in due course, it would have a phased migration in its operations when it transits from semi-knocked down (SKD) to completely knocked down (CKD) operations.
He said further that the company plans to introduce, within the next year, a wider portfolio of solutions to address the energy demand in the residential, commercial and industrial markets, using natural gas.
He described the buses as rugged and more durable, because they are adapted to the Nigerian roads. He added that the company was also expanding its network nationwide to ensure quality after sales and availability of spare parts.
Oguegbu stated that he was taking advantage of the African Union’s latest charter on free trade. “With AfCFTA already in force we hope to expand our service beyond Nigerian borders, exploring opportunities in Africa’s 54 countries and 1.2 billion population."
“Whatever the need for our development and industrialisation as a people today, we should be sustainable in our approach and think of the livelihood of future generations.“
"Whether we like it or not, climate change is real and the use of gas as a transition fuel reduces the damage done by biomass, not just to the environment but to human health,” he noted.
Also speaking, Ibrahim said that OMAA was on track to make tremendous impact.
“OMAA has been a robust partner of the National Gas Expansion Program and there is no doubt that the company is on track to make a tremendous impact in the energy and transportation industries,” Ibrahim said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Igwebuike expressed optimism that OMAA would be a household name.
“It is delightful to see such innovative developments take place in Anambra State. With this technology, I believe that OMAA will eventually become a staple brand in the industry,” she said.
Comments