Follow Us on Google
By Moses Akaigwe
The partnership between Coscharis Motors PLC and the Abia State Government on the deployment of electric buses for public transportation is nearing consummation following the arrival of the vehicles from China preparatory to a rollout.
The groundbreaking initiative was part of Abia government ‘s plan to modernise the state’s transport sector and introduce a sustainable logistics system. It is also in line with Coscharis Motors’ avowed mission to keep setting standards in the auto sector.
Showing to select journalists the first batch of 20 units of Asiastar Coscharis electric city buses procured on behalf of Abia state by Coscharis Motors’, the Chairman/CEO of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, highlighted their unique features.
He also underscored the advantages of EVs over vehicles that run on fossil fuel, even as he dubbed the Asiastar Coscharis vehicles “excellent” owing to their high quality and commuter-friendly interior.
All the buses were painted in red with ‘Abia Green Shuttle’ inscribed on their bodies before arrival.
Describing the 25-seater buses as specially made, he listed some of the salient features, including cameras installed for both security and data purposes, charging ports for seat occupants, and wheelchair ramp for physically challenged commuters, among many others.
“So, the days are gone when someone enters a bus and starts picking people’s pockets. I think with these buses,Abia State will lead in tourism, because they are trying to keep the state safe.”
Built in China, the buses, it was learnt, would be deployed to operate in Abia’s major cities, including Aba, Umuahia, and Ohafia, creating a sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly transportation network.
The Coscharis Chairman applauded the Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, “and his team,” for the project, assuring of his Group’s commitment to “working with them to deliver on their promise to the people.”
Other News
He called on other state governments to follow the trail blazed by Abia State Government by going for electric vehicles too.
Dr. Maduka who was visibly elated while showing the electric buses to the journalists on Thursday (November 20, 2025) in Apapa, Lagos, disclosed that the Abia government had the option of going for buses that are powered by clean gases that are environment-friendly, but that Gov.Otti wisely opted for EVs.
By choosing electric buses, the state government has avoided the usual challengers that go with operating vehicles that run on diesel or petrol, “Like the driver telling you, ‘oh, diesel pump price has gone up,’ or you bought diesel, and somebody is selling the diesel on the road, or some people have mixed something and put it inside the diesel and poured it in with water.”
The Coscharis founder assured that arrangements were factored in ab initio to ensure that the vehicles didn’t run into hitches likely to be caused by lack of charging facilities. hinting of a well thought out plan to address operational challenges in order to obviate unnecessary downtime.
“We are building a charging facility with them, through Coscharis Technologies. The buses will run in the day, come back in the night, and charge overnight. In the morning, they move out again.
“Their base is where we are building the charging station (with many charging points). We are building a solar energy facility that will charge the buses. So, they are not even going to depend on the public power supply to charge.”
The Sun was informed that a full charge can take a bus through 300 kilometres without the air-conditioner being on (and between 240 and 250 kilometres if the A/C is being used).
The second batch of 20 buses currently in production by Asiastar in China, would be delivered later to the Abia government by Coscharis Motors, to bring thê total to 40, for now.
Still mindful of the pledge he made 26 years ago on the day Coscharis Motors inaugurated its first ever (BMW) showroom on Adeola Odeku Street by Skin Adesola Street in Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Maduka, reiterated the company’s commitment to providing the automotive needs of Nigerians and setting standards by which the sector would be measured.
“Coscharis has continued to lead in innovation in the automobile industry, and when we set up our automobile business, we made a bold statement that we would continue to set a standard other competitors in the industry would be judged by. So we have always been in the forefront, driving innovation,” he re-stated.
Preceding the partnership with Abia was a similar one with the Lagos State Government by which Coscharis Motors a couple of years ago procured and supplied 800 units of city buses deployed to the Blue Line routes in the city.
