Category: Motoring

THE Federal Government  and corporate organisations have been asked to support  genuine assemblers of automobiles.

Chairman SCOA Nigeria Plc, Mr. Henry Agbamu,  made the call in Lagos while receiving an eight-man delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries. They include Nigerians and three representatives from the ECOWAS led by Mr. Traore Kalilou.

The team also visited the SCOA MAN Trucks Assembly Plant.

He said the support was needed because the industry is capital intensive.

Group Managing Director /Chief                  Executive Officer SCOA Nigeria PLc Dr. Massad Boulos said the SCOA MAN Assembly Plant, which is a mix of Semi- Knock Down (SKD) and Complete Knock Down (CKD), has a production capacity of 3000 units per year, depending on the shifts.

He noted that the capacity also depends on whether the plant is using one or two assembly lines, adding that the assembly of trucks is different from assembly of passenger cars or buses because it is more complex.

“The trucks are assembled without welding. But after the assemblage, there are other fabrication works that will be done to create jobs. These are done at another location which will generate more employment. This is why trucks are different,” he added.

Boulos, who described the automotive policy by Federal Government as a welcome development, said the policy would increase local content as well as create auxiliary works that can provide locally produced components.

He expressed confidence that soon component providing companies that have left Nigeria would return to operation as the industry is being boosted by the new policy.

“The government has put in place some forms of soft loans to assist the assemblers.  But our consumers will also need such soft loans too. Also, there is need to put in place custom duties that will protect the local industry and its consumers. The idea of producing locally is to create job and promote local production,” Boulos added.

Kalilou said the team wass happy with what they saw, especially the implementation of the automotive policy.

It is a truism that the rate of road traffic accidents is very high in Nigeria according to a recent global ranking but the rate of road accident fatalities could be drastically reduced if the vehicles involved on the accidents are road – worthy.

In this article, I want to focus the searchlight on Commercial vehicle seats. The seats of most Commercial buses plying the intra – State and inter – State roads have been reconstructed and turned to death traps.

Sometimes ago, I witnessed an accident on Isawo road in Ikorodu where two Commercial vehicles had head – on collision. Though none of the vehicles somersaulted and the impact on the 2 vehicles was minimal but most of the passengers inone of the vehicles sustained injuries because all the seats in the vehicle dislocated from the basement of the bus and wounded the passengers who were either wedged by the iron of the seats or fell on other passengers. The injuries would have been averted if the seats were firmly fixed in this incidence.

In a bid to create room for 4 passengers per row in the bus, the Commercial bus Drivers often remove the original seats which were meant for just 3 passengers per row to fix their local seats. In most cases, the leg rooms are so closed that many passengers ended up having pains on their legs in a journey of just about 1 or 2 hours.

Apart from the fact that it is an offence for the Commercial bus Drivers to carry 4 passengers in a row, it is also inconvenient and dangerous to the passengers whether or not the vehicles are involved in accidents.

Some years back, the Lagos State Government took a strong action against the reconstruction of bus seats but the action died down within a short period.

It is now more expedient than ever before for the Vehicle Inspection Officers nationwide to commence action against the use of reconstructed seats and improperly fixed seats to save the passengers from avoidable hazards on the roads.

The rubbers, foams and leathers used to cover the iron have torn off thereby exposing the dangerous iron which have torn many clothes and many flesh.

The body of some of the Commercial buses have seriously degenerated thereby becoming a moving casket. It takes just a little impact in an accident for such buses to scatter on the road thereby leaving the passengers unprotected from injuries and death.

I hereby plead with the relevant Authorities and the Driver Unions to keep rickety and dangerously reconstructed vehicles away from the roads to prevent avoidable injuries and deaths. Vehicle standards is as important as Driver Standards in the war against road accidents and fatalities.

Leading tyres distributor, Infinity Tyres Limited, has announced the starting of its annual promo.

At a briefing in Lagos, its Executive Director, Rajesh Chawla, said the promo was meant to reward its customers’ loyalty,

Chawla flanked by Country Head, Sanjay Singh and Marketing Communication, Praneen Kumar, said prizes for the 13th edition of the promo will include cash, tyre services such as wheel balancing and alignment, electrical car jacks, car vacuum cleaners, radiator coolants, among others.

Customers’ satisfaction, he said, is one of the firm’s core values, adding that the prizes, as usual, are to be redeemed instantly.

“Infinity value drive promo guarantees the customers, a chance to win various prizes instantly on the purchase of Infinity tyre or battery at any of the accredited Infinity Tyres and Infinity Express outlets,” he said.

Chawla noted that the organisation, which is the sole marketer of tyre brands including Pirelli, Goodyear, Infinity, CEAT and battery brand; Exide and Infinity, was working hard to expand its operation base and help reduce the challenges of unemployment in the country.

Commending the patronage of customers, Chawla said the organisation would ensure that it put smiles on the faces of customers by offering reward for every purchase.

Chawla, who stated that the growth of the organisation in Nigeria was clear indication of the trust built in the brands, lauded the efforts of its stakeholders and retail customers in turning the brand to leading brand in the market.