The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tyres

  • SON impounds N10m tyres in Awka

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Wednesday impounded two truckloads of fake tyres worth N10 million from a warehouse in Awka.

    The warehouse located at a residential building on Zik Ave., Awka, was discovered following intelligence reports, according to the organisation.

    Speaking with newsmen, the Head of the organisation in Anambra, Mr Samuel Ayuba, said the raid was part of the national campaign to rid the country of fake and substandard tyres.

    He said that substandard tyres included those that had been used or stayed for up to six years, saying they had caused a lot crashes and deaths.

    “With our surveillance, we identified where this business is thriving and now we are on a raid, the target is to remove all substandard tyres from circulation in Anambra.

    “Some of them got wind of our operation today and they took off and moved their tyres to secret places and here in this residential building. You can see a large quantity of these substandard tyres.

    “These are tyres that have been used in other countries, produced for very temperate regions and even made for short distances like agricultural purposes but these people import them, clean them and sell them to our people.

    “The seizures we made here are in the upward of N10 million. This now amounts to economic loss to the country,” he said.

    Mr John Obi, one of the dealers in the product, said that their business was genuine and wondered why they should be the ones to bear the brunt of the loss.

    “The issue of used tyres should be addressed at the ports and borders if the government wants to remove them from the markets,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, motorists who preferred anonymity said the clampdown on used tyres would further worsen the plight of the users, as they were economically cheaper.

     

  • Customs seize 450 bags of rice, 5000 used tyres

    Customs seize 450 bags of rice, 5000 used tyres

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, yesterday intercepted imported goods worth over N100million, comprising 450 (50 kg)bags of rice, 290  (25 litres) gallons of vegetable oil and over 5,000 used tyres.

    Addressing a briefing at the Customs headquarters, Bodija, Ibadan, yesterday the NCS Area Controller, Tope Ogunkua, said the seizure followed several weeks of vigilance.

    Ogunkua said the items were intercepted at Osogbo in Osun State; Igboho/Adafila and Igbeti in Oyo State on different days.

    The last 20 bags of rice were seized inside the smugglers’ dump site in the forest at Igbeti.

    A Toyota Dyna Truck said to have been smuggled into the country without payment of duty was also intercepted on March 21 in Fiditi, Oyo State.

    A Volvo Truck, suspected to be carrying over 5,000 used tyres and other goods, was also intercepted on March 21.

    Ogunkua added that the duty paid value of the seizures made this month stands at N19,744,965.

    “The command has also intensified its sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns, which has enhanced the level of voluntary payment of duty on imported vehicles from stakeholders.

    “This month alone 110 vehicles paid duty through the command, which generated N15,922,101 to the Federal Government’s coffers,” he said.

    Ogunkua, however, warned importers and the public that the importation and payment of duty on rice through the land border has been banned by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, adding that importation of rice through seaports has not been banned.

    “This is with effect from Friday. All those who have their duty already paid for the imported rice within the Oyo/Osun Area Command border entry point are advised to evacuate same on or before the said date or risk the rice being seized,” he stated.