The Akwa Ibom state Coordinator, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON) Mr. Dauda Mshella, has urged motorists to confirm the standard of tyres before buying them.
He said this is because 15 per cent of tyres in the markets are not road worthy at all.
Speaking with The Daily Times correspondent in Uyo on Thursday, Mshella disclosed that most new tyres on displayed in the shops appear new; but are expired considering the manufactured dates usually printed on them.
He said, “Customers are often deceived by the new look of the tyres; and they 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 ware houses in the country for over a year before they are purchased by motorist.
“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 as 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 goods sold in the markets do not have quality marks 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.
By Bassey Willie, Uyo
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