Importation of second-hand tyres remains banned, SON warns

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned that second-hand tyres remain banned as they constitute a danger to road users. SON’s Director General, Farouk Salim, said this at a sensitisation and training programme for over 800 importers and vulcanisers on how to identify quality and original tyres.

The programme was held at the Africa Tyre Village, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos. The DG said SON has been inundated with complaints over the rate of substandard tyres in the country, hence the urgent need for sensitisation.

Salim, who was represented by the Director of Compliance, Suleiman Issa, said all hands must be on deck to checkmate the influx of substandard goods into the country, stressing that the agency is strengthening collaborations with sister organisations to combat the scourge of fake and substandard products.

Reaffirming its commitment to the safety of road users, he stated that all second-hand tyres are not allowed into the country, as they automatically qualify for seizure and destruction.

He said the agency remained committed to regulating tyres, saying that Nigeria has about 40 million used tyres in circulation but SON has managed to remove about 10 million in the last six months.

President of the Association of Nigeria Tyre Marketers, Issa Akanbi, assured that its members would continue to do all that is required to sustain its collaboration with SON to make Nigeria’s road safer.