By Clem Khena-Ogbena
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) yesterday called upon Nigerian motorists to top their continued patronage of fairly used tyres, popularly known as “tokunbo”, adding that safety of human lives should always be accorded top priority tconsideration.
Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, who gave the advice at a one-day training on tyres, organised in collaboration with the tyre marketing and servicing giant in Nigeria, Infinity Tyres Limited, for staff of the Organisation and other stakeholders in Abuja, further told the participants that the training was in continuation of the agency’s efforts to ensure standards in all products, for the safety of Nigerians.
He stated, “The objective of the training was to equip staff of the agency and other stakeholders with the ability to identify standard and substandard tyres. This is not only meant for our technical staff,
but also the supporting staff so that they can go out to be ambassadors of the agency on its zero tolerance for substandard products.”
Represented by the Director of Operations, Dr John Chukwu, the SON boss stated, “The training is going to be a continuous exercise” which would also be replicated in all the six geo-political zones of the country, saying that the Organisation would not relent on its efforts in permanently halting the importation of substandard products into the country.
According to him, SON had done lots of analyses of the tyres and it recently seized around 1, 000 substandard tyres in Lagos and other markets, nationwide.
Odumodu stated, “The major challenge we have now is the issue of banned tyres that still find their ways to the country through so many porous borders, but we have been working with the Customs and other agencies to stop this, especially since they have been banned and there is no standard for used items, they are not supposed to be marketing in the country.
In his speech, Mr. Asghar Abdulrahman Palavkar of the Infinity Tyre Limited said the company wanted Nigerians to get rid of “tokunbo” tyres, “because there are substandards and people should always be mindful of their safety and go for quality tyres, approved for usage in the country.
Umeajeakor alleged that some law enforcement agents, at the borders, were involved in the importation of the banned tyres and other products into the country, but assured that his association would continue to discourage its members from the sales of the banned products, even as urged consumers against patronising them to discourage the dealers.
