Drivers in Ogun State under the auspices of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, have queried the activities of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, saying most of the vehicle spare parts produced in the country are substandard.
Chairman of the association, Titilayo Akibu, popularly known as Efele, lamented that Nigerian-made spare parts and tyres aside being expensive are not reliable.
Akibu, represented by the association’s secretary, Tiwalade Akingbade, spoke on Tuesday during a sensitization event organised the the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Abeokuta, the state capital.
“We appreciate you for this sensitization program and we are ready to work with you in reducing the numbers of accident and protect lives.
“But this issue of standardization of spare parts, we don’t know what that Standard Organization of Nigeria is doing.
“The foreign used tyres are more reliable, and we have been saying this for long but nobody has explained what is happening. You will buy a newly manufactured tyre in Nigeria at an outrageous price yet it is not good.
“It is sad because this money is not easy to get, you know spare parts money has skyrocketed due to the hike in fuel price. We can’t do anything aside to speak up and speak out to the agency, they should come to our rescue.
“These tyres are not reliable even for a pleasure car talk less of commercial vehicles.
“That’s why we are shouting and crying to the authorities to rise to the occasion. What are the measures in place before they can be allowed to produce tyres?
“Most of the newly produced tyres are refurbished; they are tyres that have been condemned and this is hitting us deep,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the state FRSC Deputy Corps Commander in charge of operations, Adelaja Ogungbemi, noted that the sensitization is aimed at reminding drivers of some rules and regulations that must be strictly adhered to in order to save lives while driving.
Ogungbemi asserted that safety on the road is the responsibility of all, urging drivers to do all they can to protect the lives of the passages by avoiding overloading, excessive speeding, drinking when driving and the use of fairly used tyres.
The deputy commander disclosed that most of the fatal accidents that occur are as a result of the use of fairly used tyres, maintaining that they cannot be trusted.
Meanwhile members of the RTEAN endorsed their chairman, Titilayo Akibu, for second term in office.
The motion was moved by the state first vice chairman, Monsuru Owookade, and seconded by Adeyemi Adeleye, the state publicity secretary.
Ogun drivers lament production of substandard car tyres, spare parts in Nigeria