The best news out of Naija. Kudos to S. Chime. He has proved that he knows what he is doing.

[b]Enugu’s Coal City Shuttle to take off with Innoson buses
By Moses Akaigwe [igwemos@sunnewsonline]

The loudly popular cab scheme introduced by the Enugu State Government a couple of years ago with cars such as; Suzuki Alto and Nissan Sunny, is set to have a sequel in a highly innovative made-in-Nigeria buses.

Christened Coal City Shuttle, the project will officially take off with an initial batch of no fewer than 30 purpose-built long buses from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, as part of the plan to give Enugu a befitting mass transit system. Innoson has also produced for the state waste management authority, a fleet of refuse compactor trucks.

Dropping these hints in a chat with Daily Sun Motoring, the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Govenor on Transportation, Prince Emeka Mamah, said Coal City Shuttle would not be just another transport scheme, but was designed to be innovative, efficiently managed and benefit from relevant modern technologies.
Prince Mamah added: “Coal City Shuttle is a project embarked on by the Enugu State Government in accordance with a key item in Governor Sullivan Chime’s four-point agenda, which is to give commuters in the state and the Coal City in particular, the best transportation system. So, you can say it is part of the dividends of democracy for the people of Enugu State”.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the shuttle would have been flagged off earlier, but for the insistence of those midwifing the project, on ensuring that relevant on-board and ground infrastructure, as well as supports services, are fully in place before the vehicles hit Enugu roads. For instance, close circuit television (CCTV) is being installed on each of the buses with the aim of monitoring daily operations of the vehicles and obviating gate-crashing and other criminal activities on the part of the passengers, as well as possible indiscipline and cheating by the crews.

It was also learnt that turnstiles, automated mechanical devices that control entrance into halls, stadia, and other enclosed places, are being installed on the Innoson buses. The barrier will play the dual role of controlling the entry/exit of the ticket-bearing passengers, while at the same time counting them as they board. What Enugu residents and their visitors that will be patronizing the Coal City Shuttle will find very innovative is the cashless ticketing system. In conjunction with UBA, the government has engaged agents who, as is the case with telephone recharge cards, make the tickets available to resellers from whom the intending passengers are expected to purchase them before boarding the buses.

Unlike the yellow Coal City Cabs which is being run on PPP (public, private, partnership) basis, the Coal City Shuttle is an entirely government scheme with the Enugu State Ministry of Transportation handling the procurement of the buses and employment of the on-board crews and supervisors. Fully air-conditioned and already painted dark red, the Innoson-built buses are expected to ply designated routes across the city, connecting major streets and the outskirts. Destinations will include Garki, Emene, Abakpa, New Market and Otukozala, among others.

Commenting on the choice of locally made buses, Mamh, a prince of the Igwe James Mamah dynasty reputed for the remarkable success of Ifesinachi Industries Limited in luxury bus transportation, said the Sullivan Chime-led state government considered the obvious advantages the Innoson buses have over imported brands, provide reliable after-sales back-up. According to him, ensuring that the vehicles have hitch-free operations through a solid maintenance arrangement is key to the success of the new project.
Contacted on the issue, the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, OON, stated that the buses are very strong, reliable and durable. He added that they would not have problems on Enugu roads, “because we are on ground with a very solid arrangement for after-sales service and replacement parts”.

IVM, Chief Chukwuma, disclosed, had already established a service centre in Enugu with a plan for regular availability of parts. He said.: “You will see that the Innoson buses will do well. The performance of the buses will prove what we have been saying about the vehicles. They are good. Moreover, the type of workshop we have built in Enugu for Coal City Shuttle will be built for any other state or company anywhere in Nigeria that places a large order with Innoson for the buses or the refuse compactor trucks.
Also reacting to the patronage of Innoson buses by Enugu State Government, NAMA, the association vehicle manufactures in Nigeria thumbed for Governor Chime, and urged other governors and decision makers at the federal level to take a cue from him.

The Executive Director, Mr. Arthur Madueke, argued that sourcing vehicles locally impacts positively on employment, industrial growth and economic development generally. “Therefore, I wish to urge other governors, particularly Governor Obi of Anambra State where Innoson auto plant is located, to emulate the Enugu state example. Obi seems to be a progressive governor, but I do not know why after the commissioning of the plant last year by President Goodluck Jonathan, he has not embarked on any project that will take vehicles from the Nnewi plant”, Madueke remarked.

As the Coal City Shuttle and the choice of Innoson buses continue to draw commendations for Governor Chime, the Special Adviser on Transportation is predicting that the scheme would be a huge success in view of the careful planning, innovations, quality of the buses and efficient management. He is hopeful that his experience in running Ifesinachi Industries Nig Limited will be a contributory factor to the envisaged success of the bus transport scheme.

“We are hopeful that by the end of the year, the state government and Enugu state people will see the huge benefits of the investments in the Coal City Shuttle”, Mamah stated.
[/b]
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/motoring/2011/feb/11/motoring-02-11-2011-001.htm

This Chime guy has sense ooo! Kudos to him and Enugu!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YazQL5PghHg&feature=related

Enugu is working. . .To God be the glory.

should we not wait for the buses to start moving commuters before applauding?

otokx:

should we not wait for the buses to start moving commuters before applauding?

You applaud ideas. If GEJ had half of the ideas that people lie Sullivan Chime and Raji Fashola have we'll be reaching for the skys by now.

@ Justcash, could you remove the bold, it makes your post hard to read.

The loudly popular cab scheme introduced by the Enugu State Government a couple of years ago with cars such as; Suzuki Alto and Nissan Sunny, is set to have a sequel in a highly innovative made-in-Nigeria buses.

Christened Coal City Shuttle, the project will officially take off with an initial batch of no fewer than 30 purpose-built long buses from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, as part of the plan to give Enugu a befitting mass transit system. Innoson has also produced for the state waste management authority, a fleet of refuse compactor trucks.

Dropping these hints in a chat with Daily Sun Motoring, the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Govenor on Transportation, Prince Emeka Mamah, said Coal City Shuttle would not be just another transport scheme, but was designed to be innovative, efficiently managed and benefit from relevant modern technologies.
Prince Mamah added: “Coal City Shuttle is a project embarked on by the Enugu State Government in accordance with a key item in Governor Sullivan Chime’s four-point agenda, which is to give commuters in the state and the Coal City in particular, the best transportation system. So, you can say it is part of the dividends of democracy for the people of Enugu State”.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the shuttle would have been flagged off earlier, but for the insistence of those midwifing the project, on ensuring that relevant on-board and ground infrastructure, as well as supports services, are fully in place before the vehicles hit Enugu roads. For instance, close circuit television (CCTV) is being installed on each of the buses with the aim of monitoring daily operations of the vehicles and obviating gate-crashing and other criminal activities on the part of the passengers, as well as possible indiscipline and cheating by the crews.

It was also learnt that turnstiles, automated mechanical devices that control entrance into halls, stadia, and other enclosed places, are being installed on the Innoson buses. The barrier will play the dual role of controlling the entry/exit of the ticket-bearing passengers, while at the same time counting them as they board. What Enugu residents and their visitors that will be patronizing the Coal City Shuttle will find very innovative is the cashless ticketing system. In conjunction with UBA, the government has engaged agents who, as is the case with telephone recharge cards, make the tickets available to resellers from whom the intending passengers are expected to purchase them before boarding the buses.

Unlike the yellow Coal City Cabs which is being run on PPP (public, private, partnership) basis, the Coal City Shuttle is an entirely government scheme with the Enugu State Ministry of Transportation handling the procurement of the buses and employment of the on-board crews and supervisors. Fully air-conditioned and already painted dark red, the Innoson-built buses are expected to ply designated routes across the city, connecting major streets and the outskirts. Destinations will include Garki, Emene, Abakpa, New Market and Otukozala, among others.

Commenting on the choice of locally made buses, Mamh, a prince of the Igwe James Mamah dynasty reputed for the remarkable success of Ifesinachi Industries Limited in luxury bus transportation, said the Sullivan Chime-led state government considered the obvious advantages the Innoson buses have over imported brands, provide reliable after-sales back-up. According to him, ensuring that the vehicles have hitch-free operations through a solid maintenance arrangement is key to the success of the new project.
Contacted on the issue, the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, OON, stated that the buses are very strong, reliable and durable. He added that they would not have problems on Enugu roads, “because we are on ground with a very solid arrangement for after-sales service and replacement parts”.

IVM, Chief Chukwuma, disclosed, had already established a service centre in Enugu with a plan for regular availability of parts. He said.: “You will see that the Innoson buses will do well. The performance of the buses will prove what we have been saying about the vehicles. They are good. Moreover, the type of workshop we have built in Enugu for Coal City Shuttle will be built for any other state or company anywhere in Nigeria that places a large order with Innoson for the buses or the refuse compactor trucks.
Also reacting to the patronage of Innoson buses by Enugu State Government, NAMA, the association vehicle manufactures in Nigeria thumbed for Governor Chime, and urged other governors and decision makers at the federal level to take a cue from him.

The Executive Director, Mr. Arthur Madueke, argued that sourcing vehicles locally impacts positively on employment, industrial growth and economic development generally. “Therefore, I wish to urge other governors, particularly Governor Obi of Anambra State where Innoson auto plant is located, to emulate the Enugu state example. Obi seems to be a progressive governor, but I do not know why after the commissioning of the plant last year by President Goodluck Jonathan, he has not embarked on any project that will take vehicles from the Nnewi plant”, Madueke remarked.

As the Coal City Shuttle and the choice of Innoson buses continue to draw commendations for Governor Chime, the Special Adviser on Transportation is predicting that the scheme would be a huge success in view of the careful planning, innovations, quality of the buses and efficient management. He is hopeful that his experience in running Ifesinachi Industries Nig Limited will be a contributory factor to the envisaged success of the bus transport scheme.

“We are hopeful that by the end of the year, the state government and Enugu state people will see the huge benefits of the investments in the Coal City Shuttle”, Mamah stated.

What's Peter Obi doing? He should be the first to patronize Innoson Motors.

We keep progressing!!!!!!!

Posted by: matazzmagi

We keep progressing!!!!!!

Exactly my brother; we keep progressing, and shall continue to progress.

GREAT NEWS!

Peter Obi needs to follow suit or else he would lose whatever credibility he has as the Ikemba's protege.

matazzmagi:

We keep progressing!!!!!!!

My brother, I will add "against all odds" to that. Inspite of all the gridlock geared towards us Ndigbo, we do the unthinkable in a country where nothing works. Igbo business men/women do their best for their kith and kin. Imagine the job this will create in the east, if only we have leaders who have brains. Many of these leaders have joined their partners in Abuja in looting. Thanks to the Enugu Governor and I hope others will follow suit.

This is good. Hopefully Chime can defeat those trying to prevent him from running for 2nd term as governor so that INEC will place his name back on list of candidates.

Nice work Chime

If only other states will follow, that would be nice + reduce the Peugeot on your fleet and replace with Innoson

this is great. I hope the other states take this up. especially Lagos and Abuja and even others

I would hate for innoson to become a monopoly though. hope the state doesn't pamper the company too much. It should be protected from foreign markets for the time being definitely but competition should be fostered internally.

alex101:

My brother, I will add "against all odds" to that. Inspite of all the gridlock geared towards us Ndigbo, we do the unthinkable in a country where nothing works. Igbo business men/women do their best for their kith and kin. Imagine the job this will create in the east, if only we have leaders who have brains. Many of these leaders have joined their partners in Abuja in looting. Thanks to the Enugu Governor and I hope others will follow suit.

oh come on. when will you guys get rid of your "victim mentality"
igbos are definitely the most entrepreneurial in Nigeria. what gridlock are you talking about?

A very good development. Kudos guys

Obiagu1:

What's Peter Obi doing? He should be the first to patronize Innoson Motors.

Don't mind him . . 

He's busy campaigning for Dora Akunyili and Uche Ekwunife with state funds!

Look, let's make one thing clear: The industrialization of Nigeria has commenced in full swing. We need more ''Innosons''. If we keep it up, we can be the undisputed No1 car manufacturer and exporter in Africa and the Middle East in the next 5-10 years.

ROSSIKE:

Look, let's make one thing clear: The industrialization of Nigeria has commenced in full swing. We need more ''Innosons''. If we keep it up, we can be the undisputed No1 car manufacturer and exporter in Africa and the Middle East in the next 5-10 years.

You mean car assemblers

Ujujoan female, Innoson is a car MANUFACTURING plant.

Do you know what that means?

Do you know what 'manufacturing' means 

The only thing they 'manufacture' from scratch is the body of the vehicles . . . the engine parts are all imported and coupled.

Ujojoan, you do not know what manufacturing means.

Innoson is a car manufacturing plant.

No one factory manufactures all parts of a vehicle anywhere in the world.

During a visit by a Ghana delegation to the Innoson plant: ''One man watched all through with rapt attention. David Obi is an auto-parts maker in Nigeria, member of the governing council of the National Automotive Council, president of the Nigerian-German Business Association, and chairman, Motor Vehicles Assembly of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). He told the delegation that something great he found had convinced him that IVM Nigeria was not assembling but manufacturing cars.

Direct Digital Control or Data Display Control (DDC) section of the factory, saying it marks out a factory from a mere car assembly. “Anywhere DDC is installed it is a car factory, not car-assembly”. He said this was because the international requirement was for any vehicle to be DDC-compliant, and once this can be ascertained in your complex, you are into manufacturing and you can enter any market in the world.''

http://www.acertop.info/innosons-auto-plant/

jason123:

These people sef . . . . . . . Una no dey tire?

Tire for what, What do u want them to say. That they're not progressing?

Good!!! But so sad that Gov. Chime might not return.

afam4eva:

Tire for what, What do u want them to say. That they're not progressing?

I was wondering that as well. He doesn't want us to say that we are progressing? Are we not progressing? These people have the nerve to call others tribalist.

There is no need for jealousy from jason.

afam4eva:

Tire for what, What do u want them to say. That they're not progressing?

EzeUche_:

I was wondering that as well. He doesn't want us to say that we are progressing? Are we not progressing? These people have the nerve to call others tribalist.

There is no need for jealousy from jason.

Don't get me wrong. I am happy they are progressing. Infact, I was the first person to comment on this thread. The reason I said that was because of the "against all odds" comment made by some people. I feel he was using that to spite other people. Anyway, I am not jealous.

I am happy 4 my igbo brodas. Even though am 4rm the north, i will say am very happy to hear good news as such. I pray the east groom more people like chime so that one day they will produce the finest presido that will lead this country into greatness