Compliance with tyre standards will enhance global trade – SON
By Lucy Ogalue
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says compliance with tyre standards will ensure road safety and position Nigerian businesses for global trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said this at a sensitisation programme for tyre dealers at the Apo Mechanic Village on Thursday in Abuja.
Okeke, represented by the Director, North Central, Dr Marline Waziri, also known as “Mama Africa,” emphasised that substandard tyres posed serious risks to lives and the economy.
According to him, AfCFTA presents an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to access a larger market but failure to comply with standards can leave local products in the country uncompetitive.
“This meeting is of international interest. With AfCFTA, we are working towards a single market in Africa.
“If we continue selling substandard tyres while other countries maintain high-quality standards, our products will be pushed out of the market,” he said.
He noted that more than 50 African countries had ratified the AfCFTA agreement, making it imperative for Nigerian businesses to align with international best practices.
“As a regulatory body for standardisation, inspection and certification, SON is taking this initiative seriously.
“There is a campaign going on now by SON and what we are saying is that you should ‘arrive alive’. And how do you arrive alive? It is only when you go for standard tyres.
“Tyre retailers must ensure they sell only quality products. Enough of substandard tyres,” he said.
The Chairman of the Abuja Automobile Tyre Dealers Association, Mr Samuel Nwangwu, welcomed the initiative and commended SON for engaging with stakeholders.
“I appreciate the Director-General of SON and his representative, our Mama Africa, for coming to enlighten us on this important issue. We are law-abiding and ready to learn,” Nwangwu said.
Representing the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Kunle Oguntoyinbo, stressed that improper tyre usage and storage are major causes of road crashes.
“If tyres are not properly stored, even if they have not expired, they can fail. Tyre bursts often lead to severe accidents, which is why enforcement and compliance are necessary,” he said.
He urged tyre dealers to collaborate with regulators and enforcement agencies to improve road safety.
SON’s FCT Coordinator, Mr Gamagira Mohammed, also highlighted the dangers posed by substandard tyres, describing them as life-threatening.
“The DG and his management team are deeply concerned about the influx of substandard tyres. We are here to educate, not to carry out enforcement actions.
“SON encourages businesses to do the right thing to protect lives,” Mohammed said.
The event ended with a commitment from SON and the tyre dealers to continue sensitisation programmes and establish a committee for continuous engagement on quality assurance. (NAN)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
Earlier, Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the ministry, emphasised that validating irrigation standards would help tackle key development challenges in Nigeria.
Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, SON Director General, announced the release of two key documents to enhance national standardisation.
Okeke noted that these efforts supported Nigeria’s commitment to the UN’s SDGs and encouraged participants to contribute their expertise in developing a framework for sustainable irrigation water safety.