Suzuki Undertakes New Desert Trip
ngrclimatereports February 6th, 2010
Renowned environmentalist, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, is about to create another feat in desert expedition. He has set out with a team of desert explorers on expedition from Lagos with 14 units of Suzuki vehicles, Monday. Justina Okpanku reports for THISDAY that the move is the fourth edition of the London-bound expedition by Jibunoh.
The branded vehicles, with the logos of sponsors of the trip, include four units of Grand Vitara, two Jimny and APV.
Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of the Environment, is one of the sponsors of the trip, which will take the travellers across the desert and offer Jibunoh the opportunity to step up his campaign against desertification and environmental degradation.
The General Manger, C & I Motors, Mr. Clement Chukwuka, said the consideration of the Suzuki vehicles for the tough journey was a confirmation that any of the brand’s models was a dependable companion in off-road journey.
Jibunoh’s first expedition, which he accomplished alone in 1966, was undertaken with a Volkswagen Beetle; the second 33 years later, he drove a Suzuki Sidekick. He went for the same vehicle for his third trip, which also attracted two Grand Vitara models and a Suzuki Jimny, making it an all-Suzuki convoy. It was gathered that the Suzuki vehicles never gave him any problem on the way.
C & I Motors, marketers of the Suzuki brand of vehicles in the country, also hopes to cash-in on the latest move to improve sales, it said after the last trip. “Across the Sahara desert, there are many abandoned SUVs that broke down and could not continue with their journeys.
They are there and anybody can have them for free, because the occupants are dead. Where these other SUVs failed, Suzuki succeeded. Suzuki has conquered the Sahara desert twice.”
Chukwuka meantime commented on the firm’s performance, saying that its utility vehicles dominated the market last year. Still, he declined to give sale figures to show the company’s performance in each segment. However, he was quick to point out that Suzuki cars are being used in the Taxi industry across the country.
“The business of automobile in Nigeria is tilting towards utility vehicles. Our Alto and SX4 are doing very well. We have supplied Lagos, Oyo, Enugu and Cross River States. Seven more states are asking for this. We are expecting a new batch of Alto to meet the demand by some state governments,” he said.
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