The Lagos State Government disclosed that it has taken delivery of the first set of electric buses in the Lagos Mass Transit Master Plan and is set to embark on statewide installation of electric vehicle charging equipment, including universal chargers in strategic public places including malls and petrol stations. According to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, the electric buses roll-out, which was done in partnership with Oando Clean Energy Limited and manufactured by Yutong, is part of the strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of over 7m public commuters and showcase the possibility of a sustainable transportation system in Nigeria with Lagos as a model. In contrast, analysts have maintained that Nigeria needs a CNG-powered public transport system more than one powered by batteries.
Comparing the two options, Nigeria has over 209trn scf of proven gas reserve, which is largely untapped while its electricity sector, which is also largely gas-powered, is way below target in generation and distribution. Thus, there is bound to be a trade-off between electricity usage for the buses and power utilization by households and businesses, competing for the limited electricity supply. More so, the dynamics of Lagos’s terrain and its traffic gridlocks require the use of fuel that can typically travel longer distances on a single tank of fuel. Unlike in advanced economies where advancements in battery technology and charging infrastructure have become increasingly popular, Nigeria’s resource endowment and peculiarity make gas-powered vehicles a sustainable alternative to electric vehicles.
