15% of tyres in Nigeria markets are not road worthy – SON

As the Yuletide period draws close with its attendant massive vehicular movement, the Akwa Ibom state Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), Mr Dauda Mshella, has alerted motorists to confirm the standard of tyres before committing their finances as 15 percent of tyres in Nigerian markets are not road worthy.

Speaking with The Daily Times correspondent in Uyo on Thursday, Mshella disclosed that most new tyres on display in the shops appear new but are expired considering the manufactured date usually printed on the tyres.

He said, “Customers are often deceived by the new look of the tyres and hurriedly pay for them without confirming the expiring date which is boldly printed on the tyres.

“The tyres may have been manufactured two years ago before they are imported into the country. Some tyres remain in the warehouses in the country for over a year before they are purchased by motorists.

“All manufactured tyres have four to five years lifetime. Most tyres would have expired on transit or have lest than six months to expiring date on arrival. That is the more reason why the manufactured date will be very important to confirm before purchase.”

The state Coordinator also condemned the purchase of imported used tyres by motorists especially commercial vehicles, noting that most of the used tyres imported into the country are sold to our people because Africa and indeed Nigeria are dumping ground.

According to Mshella,“No right thinking person whether Europe or any part of the world would go to the shop, buy a brand new tyre and export same to Nigeria as fairly used. They will only send it here when the tyre expired, so as to avoid accident”.

To avoid road accidents during the Christmas celebrations, the Coordinator said a task force made of SON operatives and security agents will launch ‘Operation Flush Akwa Ibom of killer tyres’.

He said the task force will move round tyre shops in the state to ensure that all used and Substandard tyres are identified and confiscated.

Mshella, who also spoke on the proliferation of sub-standard manufactured goods in the market, said most of the good sold in the markets do not have quality mark on them.

He advised customers to always look out for marks such as, Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) or Mandatory Confirmed Assessment Programme (MANCAP) on the product before they make purchases.

“When you find such marks on the product, you are sure the product has meet the required basic minimum standard, ” Mshella disclosed.

By Bassey Willie, Uyo