How Lagos plans to replace diesel buses with cleaner alternatives

The buses were delivered to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), bringing the number of electric buses supplied by Oando under the partnership to 13.

Hadiza Adukonu, Vice President, Opportunity, Maturation and New Ventures at Oando Clean Energy, announced the delivery in a video shared by LAMATA on its X account.

She said the 11 buses were the first batch of an additional 50 buses planned for Lagos, with 39 more expected to arrive.

Oando Clean Energy and LAMATA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022 to promote cleaner and more sustainable transportation in Lagos. The first two electric buses were delivered and deployed in May 2023.

According to Adukonu, the first two buses have operated with very little downtime since their deployment.The delivery comes as LAMATA moves to phase out diesel-powered buses from Lagos’ regulated public transport system.

Under the policy, which took effect in January 2026, operators introducing new buses are required to use compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric vehicles.

LAMATA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abimbola Akinajo, said existing diesel buses would also be gradually replaced with cleaner alternatives.

She explained that the policy was part of Lagos State’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with transportation identified as a major source of pollution.

The move also aligns with the Lagos State Transport Policy, which targets having 52 per cent of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fleet powered by cleaner energy by 2050.

Adukonu said the first two electric buses had transported 788,000 passengers and covered 433,000 kilometres between May 2023 and the time of the announcement.

She added that the buses had saved about 216,000 litres of diesel during the period.

According to her, the two buses consumed 584,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and generated an additional 192,000 kilowatt-hours through their regenerative braking system.

The system recovers energy when the buses slow down or brake and uses it to support their operations.

Adukonu said expanding the use of electric buses would reduce emissions from transportation, improve air quality and provide health benefits for Lagos residents.

LAMATA said the new buses would support its plan to introduce 50 zero-emission vehicles into the state’s public transport system, with a long-term target of 552 electric buses.

The authority added that the initiative would help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and noise along major transport routes.