The Lagos State Government has unveiled 11 new electric buses as part of efforts to expand cleaner public transportation and reduce dependence on conventional fuel-powered vehicles across the state.

The buses were supplied by Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL) to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) under its partnership with the state government.

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The development was announced in a video shared by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his X account, as Lagos intensifies efforts to modernise its public transport system.

The presentation, which took place on November 11, represents the first batch of an additional 50 electric buses planned under the current phase of the partnership. Another 39 buses are expected to follow.

The latest delivery brings the number of electric buses supplied by Oando under the initiative to 13, including two pilot buses introduced in May 2023.

The longer-term ambition is to deploy 552 fully electric buses across Lagos public transport corridors, supporting the state’s plans to reduce transport-related emissions and improve urban mobility.

Speaking at the presentation, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the transition to cleaner energy was necessary to meet the transportation needs of the state’s growing population and expanding economic activities.

He said the government was pursuing a gradual reduction in carbon emissions in line with its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, described the development as evidence of progress through collaboration between the state government and private-sector partners.

The buses, manufactured by China’s Yutong, can accommodate up to 79 passengers, with 39 seated and 40 standing.

They are equipped with air conditioning, onboard Wi-Fi, 360-degree cameras, wheelchair access and priority seating for elderly passengers.

The new vehicles are expected to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2026, with LAMATA responsible for their operation on behalf of the Lagos State Government.

Oando Clean Energy’s Vice-President for Opportunity, Maturation and New Ventures, Hadiza Adukonu, said the 11 buses represented the beginning of a wider expansion that would bring another 39 vehicles into the state’s transport network.

She also highlighted the performance of the two pilot buses deployed in 2023, which reportedly transported 788,000 passengers and covered 433,000 kilometres over approximately three years.

The pilot operation also avoided the consumption of an estimated 216,000 litres of diesel, according to figures provided by the company.

Beyond supplying the vehicles, Oando said it was working towards developing a broader electric mobility ecosystem that includes charging infrastructure, maintenance facilities, technical training, spare-parts supply and eventual local vehicle assembly.

The partnership between Oando and LAMATA began in 2022, with the initial two buses deployed the following year to test the technology and assess its suitability for public transportation in Lagos.

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The latest delivery marks a significant expansion of that pilot initiative, although the success of the wider plan will depend on the availability of reliable charging facilities and the effective deployment of the buses across the state’s transport network.