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SON Seizes ₦600m Worth Substandard Tyres In Ogun
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) seizes a large cache of stuffed substandard tyres worth over ₦600M in Ogun.
According to SON, the tyres, stuffed four into one, were loaded in about one hundred (100) containers.
On the seized tyres, SON boss said “there is no way we can salvage these tyres, so we are going to destroy them”.
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized a large cache of stuffed substandard tyres worth over ₦600M. The seizures were made at a remote location in Asese Area, off Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Obafemi Owode Local Government of Ogun State.
The Director-General, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated at the scene of the seizure that unscrupulous importers were taking advantage of the country’s vastness to warehouse substandard products at different hideouts. He added that the tyres were discovered after a tip -off.
Salim revealed that the tyres, stuffed four into one, were loaded in about one hundred (100) containers undetected through the entry ports without SON’s knowledge and shipped to the warehouse. This according to him further underscores the need for SON to be present at the nation’s ports of entry.
According to Salim, before declaring a tyre substandard, it would have been tested in the laboratory and found short of the requirements of the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 252 :2017).
“If the tyres are used or stuffed they are deemed substandard”
Mallam Salim also explained that the tactics deployed by the importers of stuffing tyres is to evade duties and shipping costs in order to make additional profit. He noted that in doing so, they overlook the quality implication of the tyres being deformed and compromised.
He lamented that tyres like these have no economic value as their integrity has been degraded. Salim maintained that SON will ensure that such substandard tyres do not find their way into the hands of unsuspecting consumers in the country.
The DG warned all unscrupulous importers to desist from their dastardly acts. He stressed that SON would not compromise nor gamble with the lives of Nigerians.
SON according to him would diligently prosecute anyone or group caught committing standards infractions.
On the seized tyres, he said :
“there is no way we can salvage these tyres, so we are going to destroy them”.
Mallam Salim stated that during questioning, the apprehended Manager of the warehouse, Emmanuel Ogbagu, disclosed that they usually employed manual labour to un-stuff the tyres and straighten them. After this, he said the tyres are wrapped with various brand wrappers at the warehouse before distributing to markets across the country. He said further that the owner of the products, a foreigner was out of the country.
The DG enjoined members of the public to always insist on physical inspection of their tyres to confirm the quality markings. He said the reason is avoid buying compromised products as a way to ensure safety and value for their hard earned money.
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