The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Leventis introduces Foton trucks

    Auto giant Leventis Motors has introduced Foton trucks into the market. They are products of Foton-Daimler Joint Venture.

    Speaking at the launch, Leventis Motors Sales Manager, Mr Ashish Kumar said Foton trucks are accepted globally and their coming to the country offers an optimal solution to the needs of Nigerians.

    Kumar said with deep understanding of the market, Leventis Motors has selected the spare parts, which would be well-suited for the roads and weather, adding that the trucks meet safety standards, including frontal crash and rear wall strength.

    “Some of the parts are fitted with ABS to ensure the safety of the crew and the goods. All these features come with the economy of very good fuel mileage,” he said.

    Also, the Manager Service, Mr Vilas Bhurke said Foton trucks are backed by comprehensive spare parts and service network across the country.

    “We, at Leventis Motors, believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved, when a good quality vehicle is supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after sales service and support. A vital component of this our commitment to Leventis 3s – Sales, Service and Spares – which is supported by our fully equipped after sales facilities in key locations across Nigeria with a large spare parts inventory in Lagos and other branches.”

    The new trucks include Light Duty Trucks (LDT) and Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks (M& HDT). While the former have a payload capacity of over 1.5tonnes, fitted with reliable and efficient engine, tough and heavy transmission and other aggregates, the latter have engine power of over 420 horse power and Cummins engine.

    Also, the LDTs have adjustable steering wheel, ABS, air condition, sleeper wheel, among others. For M & HDTs, their unique features include aluminum fuel tank, music sytems, smart design car-like interior for storage space.

     

  • ABC Transport wins award

    ABC Transport plc has received the Best Land Transporter in Nigeria award at the Abuja Bantaba Awards organised by Akwaaba Travel Market, publishers of the African Travellers Magazine.

    The award was conferred on ABC Transport in recognition of its outstanding services in land transportation.

    ABC Transport earlier got the “Service Excellence Award” at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Consumer Awards in Abuja and the “Most Organised Transport Company” at the eighth edition of the Nigerian Auto Awards in Lagos.

    The company has added 10 new luxury coaches to its fleet. These coaches are equipped with on-board security surveillance cameras, GPRS tracking technology and speed control limiters.

    Before the end of the third quarter, five more coaches will be acquired and deployed to the domestic routes, “ the firm said.

    It is set to take delivery of 23 new mini buses for its Sprinter Service and Shuttle Service operations,” it added.

     

  • ‘Tricycles, motorcycles not banned in Lagos’

    Lagos State government has debunked the allegation that it has banned the operations of tricycles and motorcycles popularly known as Keke Marwa and okada in the state.

    Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said there was no time the government banned tricycles or motorcycles.

    He said that Section 3 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012 stipulates that ‘No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule 11 of this Law’.

    According to him, motorcycles and tricycles were only ‘restricted’ on 475 roads out of 9,100 roads in the state including highways and bridges.

    Opeifa said tricycles and the use of unpainted vehicles were restricted on Victoria Island, Government Reserved Areas (GRA) Ikeja and Ikoyi due to requests from residents as a result of the threat tricycles and unpainted vehicles posed to the residents of the area and the increase in the number of armed robbery attacks.

    He said tricycle operators in the state are aware of the law, urging them to disregard the rumour and continue their operations in unrestricted areas in accordance with the Law.

    He appealed to those behind the rumour to desist from such acts as government will continue to ensure the safety and security of the people.

     

  • Assembly orders ministry to erect zebra crossing signs

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that Zebra crossing signs and signal lights are erected in designated areas to give effect to the rules guiding pedestrians crossing the roads.

    The Ministry of Information and Strategy was also mandated to intensify enlightenment campaigns on the need for motorists and pedestrians to comply with the signs, while the Commissioner of Police is to ensure that motorists comply with the provision of the Highway Code and Lagos State Traffic Law, 2012.

    These were among the resolutions of the House at plenary last week.

    A motion moved by Ahmed Ipoola Omisore, representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency II and others, praised the commitment of the state government towards ensuring the safety of pedestrians on Lagos roads by marking longitudinal stripes (zebra crossing) on roads in high human and vehicular density areas in the state.

    Omisore cited Part 1 Section B (II) of the Nigeria Highway Code which states inter alia that a “pedestrian is a person who is walking on the road, especially in an area also used by vehicles. Drivers share the road with many other road users among who are pedestrians who are part of exposed road users.”

    Going by this, Omisore, in the motion, observed that a zebra crossing by law gives rights of way to pedestrians, but most motorists are either ignorant of or disregard the existence of these important safety signs.

    This, he said, was worrisome as innocent Lagosians have died due to the carefree attitude of the motorists.

    The motion after presentation and deliberation was later adopted as resolution of the House to be communicated to the concerned agencies.

     

  • ExxonMobil, FRSC take safety campaign to Akwa Ibom

    The Pan-Nigeria road safety campaign, a partnership between ExxonMobil and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been launched in Akwa Ibom State. The campaign is part of a series of road safety programmes to tackle accidents.

    The year-long campaign, which was launched in Abuja by the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of FRSC, Osita Chidoka, focuses on three critical areas: seat belt usage, speed reduction and use of phone while driving.

    At the flag-off in Eket, the Manager, Logistics, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Capt. Femi Olaiya, said ExxonMobil is partnering with FRSC on the campaign to promote attitudinal change among road users in Nigeria.

    Olaiya said the national road safety initiative reflects the level of priority which ExxonMobil accords safety in all its locations of operation.

    “This campaign demonstrates our commitment to safety and support for Nigeria’s aspiration for accident-free roads,” he said.

    He enjoined drivers to ensure usage of seat belts, avoid over speeding and use of mobile phones while driving.

    FRSC Deputy Corps Marshall Mr Yomi Olukoju, said road crashes have been a source of concern not only in Nigeria but most developing countries and in the next few years, road crashes may be the third highest killer of mankind.

    Olukoju while narrating various chilling stories of how road accidents affected his loved ones, said road crashes do not just happen but are caused and therefore preventable.

    “This campaign is a national reawakening to address the challenge of poor attitude to road usage which has resulted in several avoidable accidents,” he said.

    Unit Coordinator of FRSC, Eket, Mr Effiok Udouwem, attributed 85 per cent of causes of road accidents to human factor while environmental and mechanical factors contributed five per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

  • Lagos Drivers Institute for only professionals

    Lagos State government has refuted the claim that all drivers operating in the state should attend the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI).

    A statement released by the Ministry of Transportation said: “Section 23 of the Lagos State Drivers Institute Law of 2007 made it mandatory for all professional drivers operating in the state, that is, those whose means of livelihood is driving either individual, private or corporate to undergo a re-training and re-certification exercise at the institute yearly and stipulates penalty for both drivers and employers who violate provision of the Law.

    “Since its establishment in 2007, the state government has been sensitising professional drivers to this important safety measure to curb the menace on our roads, reduce accident and loss of lives of innocent people who could contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation in general.

    “It will interest you to know that professional drivers with eye defects, drive without knowing of such eye problem. Through the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) re-training and re-certification programme, such drivers are detected and appropriate medical examination and treatment are recommended.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the state government is ready to start enforcing the provisions of this Law and therefore urges all affected persons and corporate organisations to comply so as not to be guilty of contravention.”

  • Hyundai Nigeria wins ‘Best Corporate Citizen’ award

    FOREMOST Korean auto-maker Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) has given the ‘Best Corporate Citizen’ award to Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited.

    The award, in recognition of Hyundai Motors Nigeria’s outstanding performance and corporate social responsibility initiatives, was presented at the just concluded 7th Hyundai bi-annual Global Distributors Convention in France.

    No fewer than 250 distributors and top executives from 117 countries joined executives from HMC headquarters and subsidiaries at the gathering.

    Hyundai Motors Nigeria Vice Chairman Mr Haresh Vaswani, received the award on behalf of Hyundai Nigeria team at Monaco.

    Hyundai Nigeria was named amongst other international recipients including representatives of Australia, France, India and Russia.

    The Korean automaker acknowledged the local agent’s social welfare and corporate responsibility initiatives towards the less privileged with recourse to consecutive donations of relief materials to orphanage homes in Lagos, Abuja, PortHarcourt and Calabar within the last three years.

    HMC also acknowledged the company’s anti-malaria campaign initiative which began in Lagos three years ago and was subsequently extended to Enugu and Owerri.

    Describing the awardees as “remarkable group of people,” the Executive Vice President Mr Tak UkIm, said “Despite uncertainty in the global economy, I am confident that Hyundai sales will exceed expectations for this year.”

    He enjoined the distributors to work together to make Hyundai the most loved brand in the world, saying, “Our future success is guaranteed when we move forward together to inspire and excite our customers.”

    Vaswani expressed delight at the awards and described it as another milestone and opportunity to aspire to even greater height, while growing alongside world renowned Hyundai brand.

    “Our team was extremely excited when we heard the news and it felt like we’ve made a breakthrough in the field of marketing and essentially got more than 50 million Nigerians to drive Hyundai cars. We surely will continue our celebration beyond Monaco,” he.

  • Coscharis Motors partners German firm

    Coscharis Motors and a German car rental firm, SIXT, have announced a partnership aimed at improving tourism and the logistic industries in Nigeria through a car rental, vehicle lease and haulage business.

    SIXT, founded in 1912 in Munich, Germany, is one of the first car rental and mobility service providers in the world. Today SIXT is present in over 120 countries in all continents.

    According to Coscharis Group Managing Director Josiah Samuel, the company has the vision of making SIXT the number one car rental company in Nigeria with a touch of difference in a few years to come.

    He said SIXT Nigeria will not only provide service to its clients but also see to the growth of the clients business.

    “As SIXT Nigeria drives through this road of success, we will anchor our strength on the unbeatable support and friendships of SIXT headquarter staff,” he said.

    SIXT Head of Franchise Detlef Krehahn said: “We are pleased to have acquired such an experienced franchise partner in Nigeria. Business travellers in particular will profit from the company’s high standards of quality and service as they increasingly visit this country, which has strong potential for economic growth.”

    Coscharis chairman Dr Cosmas Maduka said the objective of the partnership is to make Coscharis the leading provider of mobility service and rental cars in the expanding markets of Nigeria and West Africa.

    “As a vertically integrated automobile services group, with services spanning premium car distribution, auto-component sales, emerging interests in auto-assembly among others, Coscharis Group seeks to broaden the spectrum and deepen the value derived by the public from auto products.

     

  • Leadership crisis: TWAN urges govt to intervene

    Leadership crisis: TWAN urges govt to intervene

    Tricycle Workers Association of Nigeria (TWAN) has called on Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Mr Kayode Opeifa to intervene in the leadership crisis brewing within the different associations of tricycle operators in the state to prevent chaos.

    The association has, however, accused the Lagos State branch of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of attempting to impose an unelected leadership on them describing the attempt as an act of injustice.

    TWAN, in its petittion to the commissioner dated July 12, 2013 and signed by its Acting Secretary, Comrade Daodu Adesoji, said the union was working at cross purposes with their organisation.

    The body stated that they are ready to work with the NURTW for peace to reign in the state as earlier agreed as long as the union allows democracy to prevail.

    It, therefore, describes as illegal the caretaker committee constituted for the association by the union saying it is unjust and illegal.

    TWAN, which is the product of a merger of two rival tricycles bodies (Three-Wheelers and KORAN) further, alleged that the NURTW is trying to thwart the efforts of the Reconciliation Committee set up by the Transport Ministry to see to the complete reconciliation and merger of the two rival tricycle associations in the state.

    According to TWAN, after the first General Assembly meeting of the two rival tricycle associations (Three-Wheelers and KORAN) on July 4, another meeting was slated for July 16 to finalise the selection of the caretaker committee.

     

    They said they were surprised to receive a letter of inauguration of a caretaker committee members from NURTW on July 9 while the meeting of the two rival tricycle association set up to appoint caretaker committee is yet to be concluded.

    “On Tuesday 9th of July, 2013, we are shocked to receive a letter from the state office of the NURTW inviting all our branches exco to their state office for Wednesday 10th of July, 2013 for inaugural meeting of the association new caretaker committee and its state executives without the knowledge of the members and leaders of both association (Three-Wheelers and KORAN).

    “To our surprise, some of the members of the newly constituted caretaker committee are not known to the association members.

    “Meanwhile, the formal committee is about to round-up and organise election for the state exco of the association but this sudden change of the former committee have given us another set back”, it stated.

    In the caretaker committee set up by the NURTW, TWAN alleged that Three-Wheelers has only three representatives while KORAN has 17 representatives which it described as imbalance.

    TWAN therefore urged Opeifa to call the state Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede and Chairman of the so-called newly constituted Caretaker Committee Mr. Odusanya to order.

    TWAN therefore called for equal representation of the two associations’ members in the new caretaker committee.

    It also demanded for one month for the committee to organise a free and fair elections for the state executives for peace to reign.

    “Mr. Odusanya should be call to order not to use force or any act of provocation with the support of NURTW to intimidate or harass any of our members in their branches and units across the state, because we are ready to resist him with another round of serious legal battle”, it stated.

     

  • Lagos to prosecute unpainted vehicles users

    Lagos to prosecute unpainted vehicles users

    THE Lagos State government has warned users of unregistered vehicles and unpainted taxis to desist or face prosecution.

    Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa, decried the rate of security infractions occasioned by the indiscriminate use of unregistered vehicles and the illegal use of unpainted taxis, noting that the government has resolved to invoke the relevant sections of the Road Traffic Law 2012 on offenders.

    “Henceforth, all such unregistered vehicles and unpainted taxis will be impounded and their operators arrested and charged to court for prosecution as provided for in Section 25 of the Road Traffic Law 2012,” he said.

    He urged the public to be suspicious of unpainted taxis as many of them are now being used for illegal and criminal activities.

    Findings, he said, have shown that many of these vehicles are the tools for armed robbers, kidnappers, hired assassins and other unscrupulous individuals.

    He enjoined the public to patronise only the registered taxis (private and corporate cabs) with recognised colours so as not to fall victim to the hoodlums and other men of bad attentions.

    Opeifa said since the public has the responsibility of securing themselves, they should resist all temptations to patronise such vehicles and report any known person doing so to the law enforcement agencies. He also called on law enforcement officers to ensure compliance by bringing offenders to book.