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Kobo360 CEO Obi Ozor Becomes Enugu Transport Commissioner
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah, has appointed the co-founder and CEO of Kobo360, Mr Obi Ozor, as the Commissioner for Transport, a move that has sent ripples of joy across Nigeria’s tech sector.
Mr Ozor was sworn in last Friday alongside 19 others by Governor Mbah.
He is expected to bring his over six years of logistics and supply chain experience to drive the goals of the Southeastern state’s executive council.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mbah said to the Commissioners, “Your selection was largely driven by your track records, your experience, your background, and it’s our hope that you are going to bring those experiences to bear and to work for the people of Enugu State.”
“In this journey of greatness, growth, and development, I look forward to working with you all to actualize the Enugu State of our dreams together,” he added.
Me Ozor graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Biochemistry before advancing to the Wharton School of Business. After completing his studies, he worked at JP Morgan as an investment banker before becoming the Operations Coordinator at Uber Nigeria.
In 2016, he left Uber and later launched Kobo360, one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital logistics platforms, and is building a Global Logistics Operating System (G-LOS), a blockchain-enabled platform to power trade across the African continent.
In 2019, Mr Ozor was named “Innovator of the Year” and “Young Business Leader of the Year” at the CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards. In 2020, he and his co-founder, Ife Oyedele II, were selected to be part of Endeavor’s global network of high-impact entrepreneurs. He was also named one of Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 global leaders in technology.
His appointment shows that active players in the Nigerian tech scene are being recognized in the political stead. This will afford them to be part of policy-making and execution that will spur growth in one of the booming industries in the world.
This is coming after another Nigerian tech leader, Mr Bosun Tijani, the co-founder and CEO of CcHUB was nominated by President Bola Tinubu for a ministerial appointment.
While Mr Ozor’s appointment is at the state level, Mr Tijani will head a core ministry at the national level as the country looks to utilise more of its human talent. These nominations provide a starting point for many progressive policies to find their way into bureaucratic structures of governance.
Reacting, Mr Iyin Aboyeji, co-founder of Future Africa, describes Mr Ozor’s appointment as a “superb cabinet pick.”
“Congrats to my brother @ObiKobo- CEO of Kobo360, who was just appointed Commissioner of Transport for Enugu State! Another superb cabinet pick. Our numbers are growing,” he wrote on X over the weekend.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over $280 million has been invested by Dangote Cement Plc in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and drive economic growth in Nigeria.
The cement maker turned to CNG in demonstration of its support for President Bola Tinubu’s drive for cheaper and cleaner fuelling alternatives for all Nigerians.
At a recent event, the President emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector.
He stated that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.
This has spurred Dangote Cement to adopt CNG, reflecting its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy, making it the largest operator of CNG trucks in the country.
The chief executive of Dangote Group, Mr Aliko Dangote, said his company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.
“In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency. This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President,” he stated.
The businessman noted that the firm’s early adoption of CNG has made it the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria, emphasising that the initiative is a boost to Mr Tinubu’s quest towards enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.
“We are now using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the federal government, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda by President Tinubu. We are committed to a cleaner and greener future,” Mr Dangote said.
On his part, the chief executive of Dangote Cement, Mr Arvind Pathak, said the cement miller aims to acquire 100 per cent CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.
He disclosed that the CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels, adding that the CNG station at Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, exemplifies this commitment, with a second station currently under development in Ibese to support fleet operations further.
“By mid-2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel,” Mr Pathak said.
He added that plans are afoot to aggressively pursue this timeline of deployment, beginning from the first quarter of 2025, saying, “We are keeping our eyes on the ball to ensure that we do not miss our target dates of full compliance.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Government has announced that the Red Rail line will begin full passenger operations on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo.
“Full passenger operations on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line will commence on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo affirmed today,” a public notice from the agency read.
According to LAMATA, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, members of his executive council, and other dignitaries will launch the passenger operations and ride with commuters on the first fee-paying passenger trip.
Mrs Akinajo said that train services would commence daily from Agbado at 6.00 am.
“Before now, trips have emanated from Oyingbo at 9.00 am. The first train therefore got to Agbado at 10.07 am. The adjusted timetable foreshadows upcoming commercial passenger operations commencing on Tuesday, 15th October 2024,” the agency said.
He explained that the new timetable was the outcome of data gathered through the series of tests, including that for the non-fee-paying passengers. According to him, the new timetable gives priority to the origin trips from Agbado where riders live and work at Ikeja, Oshodi, and Lagos Island.
“For passengers whose journeys terminate on Lagos Island, buses will be available at Oyingo bus terminal for them to complete their journeys,” LAMATA said.
“It would be recalled that infrastructure for the Red Line was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29th February 2024. The Red Line’s first phase spanning 27 kilometres has eight stations at Oyingbo, Yaba, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, lju, and Agbado.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said it would update members of the public on the new rates for driver’s licences and number plates.
On Wednesday, the agency, through its social media platforms, released a revised rate for the items, attributing the increase to the Joint Tax Board (JTB).
However, after removing the information from its platform, it issued a rejoinder, claiming the image of the JTB was added to the notice “in error.”
In the now-deleted flyer, the road safety organisation said from November 1, 2024, to obtain a 3-year motor vehicle driver’s licence, applicants will pay N15,000, while the 5-year licence will cost N21,000.
As for the 3-year motorcycle and tricycle driver’s licence, it will now be N7,000 and N11,000 for the 5-year licence.
It also said the standard private vehicle number plate will cost N30.000, the standard commercial vehicle number plate will also be N30,000, while the fancy vehicle number plate will cost N400,000.
In addition, the motorcycle number plate will be N12,000, the articulated vehicle number plate will be N90,000, the deal motor vehicle number plate will be N100,000, the government fancy motor vehicle number plate will be N120,000, the government standard number plate will be N80,000, the government fancy motorcycle number plate is N50,000, and the government standard motorcycle number plate will beN20,000.
But in its rejoinder signed by its Assistant Corps Marshal for Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Thursday, the agency said, “Recall a flyer earlier released on revised rates for number plates and driver’s licence bearing JTB logo, which was earlier released on FRSC social media page, the corps wishes to inform the general public to disregard the content of the flyer, particularly as it relates to the JTB logo, which was added in error.
“Further information on the revised rates will be made available to the public in due course. The Corps regrets any inconveniences caused by the release.”
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