Frontline auto company, Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM), has partnered the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), as well as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) in facilitating training for conversion of petrol vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas, as well as the provision of Special Service Tools (SST) for auto technicians in the country.
Participants at the first phase of the training held on September 16-20 at the NADDC centre in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, numbering over 45, included members of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Ekiti State Chapter and representatives of the Ekiti State University (EKSU).
The trainees were selected from all the local governments in the state.
In order to complement their training, LSM went a step further to provide the participants with the Special Service Tools and battery-powered hand-drilling machines, worth about N400,000 each.
Managing Director of LSM, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, commended President Bola Tinubu for the CNG initiative that had energised the nation’s auto industry, adding that it would reduce cost of public transportation and boost the economic activities.
He told journalists that the company remained committed to facilitating the growth of the local auto industry by way of collaborating with the NADDC in training technicians and providing them with modern tools.
He said, “This is not the first time we are doing this, as we have been doing it for many years. It is our own way of giving back to the society and ensuring that auto technicians keep abreast with recent developments in the industry, especially with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) technology.
“We have just unveiled our LSM-branded full CNG buses, which are the first full CNG buses in the country, for airport shuttle and for city operations, and we are also investing in the provision of mobile CNG stations.”
Some of the LSM technical personnel who were on the ground were the Car Workshop Manager, Akinyemi Jamiu, and Technical Service Advisor, Mr. Oluwasegun Aaron Akanbi.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State government, which also collaborated in the training, and represented at the event by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, said, “The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government and the state government have ensured that Ekiti State is in the forefront of this endeavour and we continue to ensure that our people get the best in terms of the advantages.
“CNG is not strange to us, we are just adding gas for mobile vehicles. We are already in a good position as far as CNG is concerned. Use of CNG will enable our people to have access to cheaper fuel to power their vehicles,” he added.
NADDC Director General, Joseph Osanipin, said that the training was aimed at ensuring capacity building and skill upgrades for technicians and youths to enable them to cope with the dynamic automotive industry.
Osanipin, who said that President Tinubu established the PiCNG in furtherance of his commitment to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, said there were a lot of benefits along the CNG value chain.
The head of NANTA at the event, Mr. Olusoji Olusegun John, expressed delight about the event.
Another participant, Engr. Faseluka Ademola, said, “I will like to commend the representatives of Lanre Shittu Motors for their exceptional expertise in converting petrol vehicles to CNG. The 5-day training programme was impressive, seamlessly integrating theory and practical sessions.”
It would be recalled that in 2022, LSM instituted an auto skill training and employment scheme for school leavers that has taken many dropouts and area boys out of the streets.
Also last year, LSM identified with NADDC in the auto training and provision of specialised tools to technicians in different parts of the country.
