The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has intensified its campaign against substandard tyres, urging dealers to prioritize quality and ensure consumer safety.
Speaking at a tyre stakeholders’ forum held at Apo Mechanic Village on Thursday, SON’s Director General, Ifeanyi Okeke said, it is imperative that dealers only sell high-quality tyres.
During the ‘Tyre Awareness – A National Imperative’ event, Okeke stressed the risks of selling subpar tyres and advised tyre merchants to choose carefully what they sell.
“As a retailer, you have to select the type of tyres you are going to sell to consumers. Enough of substandard tyres,” Okeke declared.
Represented by the Director of SON’s North Regional Zone, Mrs. Marilyn Waziri, Okeke highlighted the negative impact of substandard tyres, especially in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“With the AfCFTA, you can now export your tyres to any country in the continent, and their own tyres will also enter Nigeria. If we continue allowing substandard tyres, when quality tyres come in from other countries, it will push ours out of the market,” he explained.
Okeke assured traders that SON’s enforcement measures are not designed to cripple their businesses, but rather to enhance road safety and market competitiveness.
“We have been deliberating, even at the national level, on how we can reduce the level of substandard tyres coming into the country. We are not trying to push you out of business,” he reassured.
He further revealed that the sensitization initiative will be extended nationwide, with SON collaborating closely with tyre dealers to ensure that only certified products are sold in the Nigerian market.
SON’s FCT Coordinator, Gamagira Isiaka, also emphasized the organization’s commitment to eradicating substandard tyres, stating that they pose a serious threat to transportation safety.
“The DG has serious concerns about fake and substandard products, especially tyres. That is why we must sensitize tyre dealers,” Isiaka stated.
Chairman of the Abuja Automobile Dealers Association, Samuel Akah, praised SON for the initiative and promised that dealers will adhere to all quality standards.
He also applauded Okeke’s leadership at SON for encouraging regulators and traders to work together.
The event featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders, including the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force.
There was also a technical presentation by Adetoyi Adeyinka on the proper preservation of tyres and related safety measures.
With SON’s renewed focus on quality enforcement, Nigeria’s road users can expect safer driving conditions, as efforts to eliminate substandard tyres gain momentum across the country.