The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Innoson Motors, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma has asked Nigerians to “calm down”, be patience and support President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He spoke on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to Tinubu at the presidential villa.
Chukwuma’s visit comes amidst nationwide protests over Nigeria’s rising food inflation and economic hardship.
The protests had culminated into violence and widespread vandalization in some places in the north.
Addressing state house correspondents, the businessman expressed his confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, assuring that a better Nigeria would emerge in his administration.
“At times like this, I decided to visit Mr. president and encourage him. People must be patient. This Mr. president, I know how he behaves. Let everybody calm down for him, they will see a better Nigeria from Tinubu,” Chukwuma said.
Chukwuma highlighted the importance of preserving public infrastructure, stating that the government is committed to improving the country’s future.
“Let everybody be patient because everybody knows that the former government sold oil, collected the money and did not supply but this government is just supplying but not getting the money,” he said.
“So let’s give him a chance, everything will be okay. The way I see him, he wants the best for this country, so I am encouraging everyone to be patient and not destroy public infrastructure.
“There is no benefit in destroying our things. Our benefit is to be calm and allow him to plan for the future of this country.”
The CEO also talked about Innoson Motors’ pioneering work in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, which was birthed two years ago.
Chukwuma mentioned that there are ongoing partnerships between the government and Innoson Motors, promising that the brand would soon be visible across the country.
He then expressed confidence that the government’s focus on CNG is a transformative agenda for the country, pledging that CNG buses will in a short time be on the roads.
“I started CNG about two years ago, I was the first to start it in Nigeria. My visit here today is on CNG vehicle issues, I have discussed with them and in a short time the masses will see CNG buses on the road,” the CEO said.
“[The] government’s initiatives on CNG is the best idea for this country because there are a lot of benefits and it was those benefits I saw that led me to start the factory to produce vehicles on CNG.
“I had started producing CNG vehicles before the announcement. For those that have used CNG vehicles, they will agree it is the way forward for this nation.”
The Tinubu administration began it’s campaign for the adoption of CNG after the president announced the end of subsidised premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, on May 29, 2023.