Innoson Visits Tinubu, Lauds CNG Initiative, Economic Interventions

Bennett  Oghifo

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), Nnewi, Chief Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, CON, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his recent Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, saying it has many advantages over the current reliance on fossil fuels.

In a statement issued yesterday, Chief Chukwuma said he was optimistic that the various interventions of the President  would stabilise the economy after sometime, and pleaded with Nigerians to be patient and wait for his initiatives to start yielding dividends.

The Innoson founder spoke shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Thursday, August 8, saying he believed that the number one citizen would make the country better than he met it.

Chukwuma also said that very soon, Nigerians would be seeing Innoson buses on the road in various parts of the country following the “fruitful discussions” with President Tinubu.

He stated,“People must be patient. I know how this President behaves. Whatever we want, we will see the better side of Nigeria through his initiatives. I plead with everybody to calm down for him, because we will see a better Nigeria from Tinubu.

“So, let Nigerians give him a chance, because I believe that 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’s no benefit in destroying our things.”

Chukwuma said he was optimistic that the meeting with the President would result in the patronage of IVM CNG vehicles by the federal government.

“Yes, the government is doing its best with Innoson Vehicles,” he confirmed. “In a short while, everywhere you go you will see Innoson Motors.”

He also spoke on Innoson’s path-finder role in the production of CNG vehicles in Nigeria, saying, “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 him, and in a short time, the masses will start seeing CNG buses on the road.”

Those who had knowledge of the meeting, said President Tinubu received the Innoson founder in the presence of the Minister of Finance, Wale Edu, and commended Chief Chukwuma and his Nnewi auto plant for their great achievements since the factory was commissioned in 2010 as Nigeria’s first indigenous auto manufacturer.

“Mr. President informed Chief Chukwuma that he had been getting very positive and commendable reports about his auto company, especially the wide range of quality vehicles it has been producing for Nigeria,” the  source stated

In 2021, Innoson became the first automaker in Nigeria to commence the manufacture of CNG vehicles in Nigeria with hybrid (CNG/diesel) long buses produced for some customers in the oil and gas sector.

A batch of IVM city buses was officially rolled out in April, 2022, at the company’s factory in Nnewi with the leadership of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)  in attendance.

The MAN team at the event was led by the President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, and the Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri.