The First and Last Mile Buses: A story of Hope, Ingenuity and Resilience
The story of DUKA Automotive, a subsidiary of Origin Tech Group, is one of hope, ingenuity
and the absolute resilience of a young Nigerian team, who worked passionately, against all odds,
to manufacture and deliver Lagos State’s First and Last Mile Mini Buses.
The First and Last Mile project, which was launched on May 18th, 2021, and was given a
renewed impetus by the people’s governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is designed to reshape
transportation system at the grassroots level and facilitate the complete purge of commercial
bikes (Okada) from the city. In 2020, Lagos reported over 600 deaths in 10,000 bike-related
accidents in five years. The First-Last Mile bus scheme is a strategic move by the Lagos State
government to build a tech-supported and safer intermodal transport system in Lagos metropolis.
These mini buses will ply the inner parts of the city, serving as the first and last means of
transportation for Lagosians. The goal of the project is to produce 5,000 cashless mini buses in
phases over the next couple of years.
According to the Assembly Manager, Abesin Tunde, Origin Tech Group has created an auto
service centre for all the First and Last Mile buses. He said the centre will provide care and
maintenance for all the 5,000 First-Last Mile buses.
This is just the beginning
“The launch of the First and Last Mile buses is just the beginning of an innovative journey for
DUKA Automotive,” said the Chairman of Origin Group, Prince S.J Samuel. “With a team of
some of Nigeria’s finest engineers, we are set on a wholesome and most transformative path to
deliver Nigeria’s first electric automobile, manufactured right here in the state with local talent.”
The Group and its subsidiary, DUKA Automotive are working towards launching a state-of-the-
art automobile plant in Surulere, Lagos, with a capacity of manufacturing 50,000 vehicles
annually with 45% local material inclusion.
Hope, Ingenuity and Resilience
According to Abesin Tunji, “We had to build the factory within six months; we converted our
tractor assembly line into an automotive assembly line with full complete knock down (CKD)
vehicle production capabilities. This is truly a story of determination by young Nigerians,
dedicated to making their dreams come true.”
The team fully began production in September 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and was
able to complete and deliver their first batch of buses in just a few months. “The achievement
and story of DUKA Automotive is a story of hope, resilience and ingenuity. It is the story of
pushing ahead in the face of daunting challenges. It is the story of the sheer creativity and
innovation embedded in the DNA of every Nigerian. It is the Nigerian story,”— Prince S. J
Samuel, Chairman Origin Tech Group.
At a time when businesses were shutting down and thousands out of jobs due to the pandemic,
young Nigerian engineers found an uncommon opportunity to join the DUKA team in building
low-carbon emission, low fuel-consumption and laudable masterpieces of logistics.