The Nation Newspaper

Tag: vehicles

  • Aba police get security vehicles

    The Aba police command has received 20 Sport Utility Vehicles fully fitted with modern security gadgets. The SUVs were donated by Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    The Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase received the security vehicles from Ikpeazu before handing them over to the state Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila.

    Mr. Habila warned criminals in the commercial town and other parts of the state to relocate, saying that the force in collaboration with other security agencies would make Aba and other parts of the state unsafe for them.

    He stressed that with the 20 vehicles and more that will follow, security agencies would make the state a destination for investors.

    Detailing how the vehicles would be used, the state police chief stated that the vehicles were not going to be used for patrols, but to be stationed at places he described as black spots and tactical operation points, including exit routes through which criminals escape after robbing or kidnapping their suspects.

    “We have crime-mapped the state which gives us the opportunity to locate areas used as escape routes by criminals and hoodlums. The vehicles are going to be pinned down in such black spots, vulnerable and tactical operation points. The essences is to enable us cut short response time during distress calls and to lock down the city from criminals who would come to commit offence and take to flight.

    “Aba is no longer safe and it is going to be very hot and discomforting for criminals who may want to come into the city and the state to commit any crime and would want to have his way.”

    Assuring that the vehicles would be judiciously used and properly monitored, Abia State Police Commissioner used the opportunity to reassure residents of Aba, Abians and investors to the state of their safety and safety of their businesses.

    He called for the collaboration of members of the public in the fight against crime and criminality, urging them to report cases and activities of criminals and hoodlums within their neighbourhoods to the police and other security agencies as part of their contribution in making the society safe for all to live.

    Before the vehicles were handed over to various police divisions including MOPOL 55 Squadron Command, they were driven round the city of Aba in a convoy patrol led by the state Commissioner of Police and assisted by the Aba Area Commander and MOPOL 55 Squadron Commander, Peter Wagbara and Subay Oladipo.

     

  • Fed Govt donates vehicles, motorcycles for Benin polls

    Nigeria has donated 15 Hilux vehicles and 100 motorcycles to the Independent National Electoral Commission of Benin Republic to enable it conduct credible presidential election.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulus Lolo, who presented the items in Cotonou, said free, peaceful and credible election in the neighbouring country was of interest to Nigeria.

    The presidential elections will hold on March 6 and 36 candidates will contest, according to  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Lolo encouraged the people of Benin and the electoral commission to conduct the elections in a transparent and credible manner.

    “Nigeria and Benin are neighbours; what happens in Benin is of immediate impact and interest to Nigeria and what happens in Nigeria has impact and is of interest to Benin.

    “Besides, we are one and the same separated by colonial rule and because of this separation with a borderline; we tend to think we are different people.

    “Therefore, our being here today to support the electoral process in Benin is a clear demonstration of our solidarity, brotherhood and friendship,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria wants to share its experience with Benin to encourage the people that there is no alternative to democratic governance.

    “You are witnesses to the landmark change that took place in Nigeria in 2015, following the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in a peaceful, transparent and legitimate election without rancour.

    “That election in Nigeria was a landmark because for the first time, a ruling party that had been in power for 16 years, was voted out of office.

    “Through the free will of the Nigerian people, the election ushered in an opposition party for the first time,” he said.

    Lolo, however, said the peaceful change could not have been possible were it not for the courageous and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said: “Today, the support we are rendering to Benin is to enable the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonome (CENA) stand firm and ensure that the votes of the people count.”

    The President of CENA, Tiando Emmanuel, hailed Nigeria’s support to Benin, saying the donation will assist the electoral body to enhance its performance.

    “The quality of relationship between Nigeria is demonstrated by the frequent meetings existing between the two countries.

    “During the last meeting with INEC, I told the INEC chairman that Nigeria is the elder brother of Benin and the elder brother cannot abandon the younger brother.

    “This gesture will allow CENA to reach the farthest parts of Benin during the election and will reinforce our democracy in Benin and democratic values in Africa,” Emmanuel said.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Dr. Lawrence Obisakin hailed Buhari’s leadership quality, saying he had supported democracy in Africa since he assumed office.

  • Create special lanes for emergency vehicles

    SIR: A Monday morning it was, when I heard sirens and at the same time saw this fire truck flashing its light along Iyana Dopemu area of Lagos. The driver of this truck was blowing his siren, doing everything he could to get out of the heavy gridlock in this area, but he had his truck stuck. With the attitude exhibited by this man, it was obvious he was on a rescue mission.

    But most disheartening was that no one could stop so that the fire truck could zoom by safely and efficiently. Cars were moving even the one I boarded also was included. To compound issues, passengers on board were warning the driver not to stop; they were all lamenting they don’t want to lose their jobs by getting to work late.

    To me it makes perfect sense that if you see an ambulance or other emergency vehicles with sirens blaring, one should pull over and let them pass as anything contrary to this might cost the life of a victim or destruction of property. It seems I am all alone in this school of thought.

    One thing I am quite sure of is when he finally gets through he would not only be delayed, he would have been frustrated and worried, and might drive carelessly ahead. Apart from this, the situation of things at the place where his attention was needed by then might have gone out of hand.

    If the Lagos State government and other states where the Bus Rapid Transits (BRT) are present could operate dedicated lanes, which makes BRT systems run at faster speeds than conventional buses in regular traffic, there is nothing stopping both the federal and state government from thinking towards this direction for our emergency vans.

    There is nothing like by-passing traffic as quickly as possible to potentially save a life or property. Creating these lanes would help reduce ways in which lives and properties are lost in this country and would also help measure the effectiveness of our emergency system.

    Like the BRT lanes, motorists must not be allowed to ply such lanes if eventually they are created.

     

    • Solomon Odeniyi,

    Lagos.

  • ‘5,000 vehicles in Nigeria run on CNG’

    The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc, an indigenous downstream petroleum and gas operator, has said over 5,000 vehicles run on compressed natural gas (CNG) in Nigeria.

    The company said the CNG- powered vehicles had come to stay in Nigeria, since the inception of the project in 2009.

    NIPCO’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Taofeek Lawal, said more than 4,000 vehicles had converted to use CNG in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    He said over 500 vehicles were also operating in Lagos on the environment friendly CNG. According to him, the aim of the CNG refilling stations in Nigeria, especially in Lagos, was to provide alternative to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at a reduced cost and to boost national socio-economic growth.

    He also said aside the economic gains, CNG targeted reduction of unfriendly automobile emissions and exposure of Nigerians to the innovation of powering vehicles on gas, adding that the company has about 10 CNG operating stations nationwide, while others are under construction.

    He said the patronage of CNG refilling station, at Ibafo, Ogun, has been impressive with an average of five minutes’ drive by commercial buses and private vehicle owners. “CNG sustainability in Nigeria is sustainable considering that Nigeria is one of the largest producers of natural gas.

    “Ibafo CNG station, near Lagos, is a world-class facility with about 12 dispensing pumps for light and heavy duty trucks. The innovation is sustainable because the private sector is taking the lead, as government provides enabling environment for it to thrive,” he said.

    Lawal said the conversion of vehicles to CNG compatible costs between N200,000 and N300,000. He said the cost profile of CNG vehicular conversion came with a flexible repayment package and depends on the choice of kit.

    He also identified poor awareness, absence of policy on natural gas vehicles and lack of natural gas supply across the country as the cause of poor usage of CNG as fuel for vehicles.

    Lawal said stagnation of CNG revolution in Nigeria was also due to the inability of NIPCO and the Nigerian Gas Company to float a Joint Venture (JV).

    He noted that lack of gas infrastructure, pricing and the government support militate against CNG expansion in Lagos.

    “Nigerians are well informed towards the CNG projects but it can be improved upon. The best time for CNG popularisation is when government increases the price of PMS. This will further compel motorists to think of the cost benefits of powering vehicles with natural gas. Gas at N55 per standard cubic feet is equivalent to one litre of petrol, which currently sells at N87 with government subsidy. All the necessary approval from DPR has been obtained before commencement of operation,” he said.

    The company’s officials at the Ibafo CNG refilling station said motorists pay initial deposits of about N20,000 for conversion to gas while the balance is deducted through subsequent purchase of gas.

  • Gombe donates vehicles to FRSC

    Gombe donates vehicles to FRSC

    The Gombe State government has donated two patrol vans to the state Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to aid its operations.

    The Sector Commander, Mr. Abayomi Omiyale received the vans on behalf of the command.

    He said, “The donation could not have come at a better time or on a better day than on the very first day of the ‘ember months, the period during which most of the crashes in the year actually occur.

    “For the governor to have donated these two vehicles means that he does not want traffic offenders to go unpunished and therefore, you will not enjoy his sympathy if you are apprehended, especially as we go through the ‘ember months

    “For those of you who think you could use Route ‘B’ because Road Safety is operating on Route ‘A’, it is no longer business as usual. We are now ubiquitous, that is, we can now be at different points at the same time.”

    Omiyale recalled that the administration of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had earlier donated three ambulances to the Sector Command and equally established a Unit Command in Cham near where majority of the crashes along Gombe-Yola Road used to were happening before that Unit Command was established.

    He said, “Not only that; he provided ample office accommodation for the Command, including residential accommodation and fuels our patrol vehicles on a weekly basis.

    “It is for this reason that the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Engineer Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi himself would have loved to be here but he is out of the country.”

    He said this commitment led to a further decline in the statistics of road crashes, adding: “If you look at January to July of last year, 2014 and this year 2015, road crashes in Gombe State have gone down by 18% from 103 in 2014 to 84 in 2015; injuries have also gone down by 20% from 424 in 2014, to 341 in 2015 and fatalities (death) have also gone down 28%, from 74 in 2014 to 53 in 2015.

     

  • Take your vehicles for computer test’

    It is not enough to have a spare tyre or fire extinguisher and those other things road safety managers insist on; you should also present your vehicle for computer test.

    At the first anniversary of the Abuja Computerised Vehicle Testing Service (CVTS), its executive officer Mr Segun Obayendo urged motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take their vehicles to CVTS centre for the test.

    He said the measure prevents accidents.

    Obayendo said the measure had been around for decades.

    “Now we have improved on it by using state-of-the-art equipments. The problem is that it is new and we lack the tendency to resist change, even if it is to our own advantage. That is what has affected this project, but with consistent sensitisation programmes, we will get people to comply.

    “When we go on enforcement, sometimes we get motorists who are not with the inspection report and some are still having the handwritten Road Worthiness Certificates, that is not what we are issuing out after the inspection, it is against our laws. We believe that as time goes on, people will do the right things on the issue of road worthiness,” he said.

    He also frowned at the fact that the vehicles inspection center has been able to inspect just 14,000 vehicles in the FCT in the past one year in their two vehicles inspection centres, which he said is a very small number compared to their expectations.

    “The two centres we have, have capacity of 250 each, which 500 vehicles per day. That means we are supposed to have inspected over 140,000 in one year, if the people were complying.

    “For now the sanction of offenders is that when they are caught, we compel them to go through the exercise for them to get the road worthiness certificate and then they will pay a fine of N2000 for not complying with the law initially,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, FCT administration, Mr. John Chukwu, further advised the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) FCT chapter and the FCT Transport Secretariat to partner with the vehicles inspection testing services in order to have safety on FCT roads.

    “We are also encouraging motorists in the FCT to Make use of this facilities, by ensuring that their vehicles are worthy of road use. If they do it, they are ensuring the safety of their passengers, families and their own lives.

    “That is why we are encouraging both the FCT Transport Secretariat and the Road Safety to collaborate with the VIO, to ensure that these facilities are used. In doing that, we are going to reduce the numbers of lost lives and fatalities on our roads,” he said.

    Merit Awards of Excellence were given to the immediate past FCT Transport Secretariat Secretary, Engr. Jonathan Ivoke, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, amongst others for their contribution in ensuring that Thérè is saftefy on FCT roads.

     

  • Volkswagen America recalls 420,000 vehicles

    Volkswagen of America will recall about 420,000 vehicles in the United States (US) due to a potential problem with air bags.

    The recall affects various VW models, including the Golf, Jetta and Passat, with model years between 2010 and 2014, the company said.

    The company said it notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the steering wheel clock spring on approximately 420,000 Volkswagen vehicles in the U.S.

    On certain vehicles, the steering wheel clock spring could become contaminated with long hair or long fibers, which may cause a displacement of the internal guide loops. When the guide loops are dragged out of position, they may apply tension to the internal flat cable and cause it to tear.

    Should the cable tear, the electrical connection to the driver’s front airbag may be lost, causing the airbag monitoring indicator light to illuminate. In a crash that warrants a driver front airbag deployment, the airbag will not deploy, leading to a risk of driver injury.

    No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported, the company said.

  • Kia Motors sold 230,227 vehicles in July

    Kia Motors Corporation announced its July 2015 global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles, recording a total of 230,227 units sold.

    In July, Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in the domestic Korean market (13.9 per cent growth with 48,202 units sold) and North America (5.8 per cent growth with 62,013 units sold).

    Cumulatively through the first seven months of 2015, Kia’s global sales totalled 1,667,575 units for a -0.9 per cent year-on-year decrease. Korea (290,784 units sold) and North America (408,750 units sold) have seen an 11.4 per cent and 4.0 per cent rise in sales, respectively, through July 2015.

    Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets during July 2015 was the B-segment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) with 38,500 units sold. The Sportage compact CUV was the second best seller with 28,993 units sold, while the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets), Optima D-segment sedan and Soul urban crossover followed with 22,691, 20,325 and 18,760 units sold, respectively.

    Meanwhile, Kia kicked off official retail sales in Mexico in July with 1,499 units sold through its initial network of 21 dealerships. This figure is more than double the previous sales mark achieved by any other automaker in its first month of sales in the country, according to data from Urban Science, a company specialising in data analysis for the automotive sector. Kia plans to add an additional 25 dealerships in Mexico by the end of 2015 to bring the total number dealerships to 46.

  • Police recover 13 vehicles from gang

    Police recover 13 vehicles from gang

    The police have smashed a four-man car robbery gang.

    The suspects are Austin Paul, 32, Chucks Ezeala, 30, Taye Ade, 51 and Gafari Kasali 26.

    Recovered from them are Toyota Camry Saloon cars with registration numbers 333131ASM,  BDG 823 DG,  AKD 825 AU, ABJ 904 AJ,  UMI 432 CG as well as Volks Wagen Vento Saloon cars marked LSD 189 CD and  LSR 829 CB. Others are Volks Wagen Golf 3 with number plate LSR 875 AV and an unregistered Volk Wagen Golf 3. They also included Volks Wagen buses marked APP 785 XJ,  FKJ 847 XH and  BDG 662 XH as well as an unregistered Volk Wagen bus. They were recovered from Enugu, Imo and Abia states.

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone II Onikan, Lagos Joseph Mbu said the suspects were caught around Ipaja in Lagos following a tip off on June 8.

    Mbu said two of the suspects – Paul and Ezeala who were first arrested by the Zonal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives  led the police to where others were nabbed.

    Mbu said Paul confessed under interrogation to have stolen many parked vehicles within Lagos and environs and sold about 13 of them to Ezeala.

    He said Ade forged customs and other vehicles papers for the stolen vehicles, adding that Kasali acted as mechanic.

    Ezeala, from Orlu in Imo State said: “My original work was repairing of electronics, but when I found out that there is quick wealth in dealing in stolen vehicles, I switched over to selling cars. I bought about 13 cars from Paul between N200,000 and N300,000 each with some having market prices of N800,000, N1.5million or more.

    “The gain was highly tempting. Initially the criminal suppliers used to tell me that they bought the cars from Cotonou but I later discovered that they were snatched but because of the money I was getting I could not back out and, to leave the gang is more dangerous because the gang members will feel unsafe and come after one’s life. My role is to sell the stolen cars. I used to get documents from Ade to enable me sell the cars. At times I used to top N20,000 or N30,000 to the price the supplier tells me to sell especially those cars that needed quick disposal.”

    Ade, an indigene of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, who is a clearing agent  at Apapa Wharf, said: “These snatchers used to lie to me that the vehicles were Tokunbo cars and just to help them get vehicle particulars to enable them sell them but with time, I discovered that they were stolen cars but because of the quick money I used to get from forging documents, we agreed to work together for the interest of every member of the gang. My role is to perfect the vehicle documents for them. I charge N10,000 for each vehicle. At times, they will tell me that two or three of the vehicles were imported. I was arrested when Chucks called me and asked me to go and collect papers from Austin for the cars he supplied. Getting there I fell into the hands of ZSARS operatives.

    Paul said: “I am a one-man car snatcher but I don’t use gun. My complete names are Okechukwu Austin Paul. I was a tanker driver before I became a car-snatcher. We used to be a two-man gang but my second, Sylvester later travelled to Malaysia. My weapon is wire which I used to move parked vehicles. My modus operandi is called park and remove but police call it removing from park. My only receiver is Chucks and he knows that the cars are stolen.

    “When he needs cars from me, he will ask me whether there is market or did I go to market? I snatched about 13 cars and gave Chucks. I used to sell snatched cars N150,000 and N200,000 each to Chucks and, at times he will not give me a dime for one or two cars I supplied him claiming that police raided his place. I have been arrested by Lagos State police SARS operatives and they recovered three cars; Ogun State Police Command SARS operatives recovered four cars while Zone II Onikan Lagos recovered 13 cars. I cannot remember the number of cars I snatched since I started this job.

  • Importers spend N6.3tr on vehicles in five years

    The Federal Government has said importers of vehicles at the country’s gateways spent $31.67 billion (about N6.3trillion) on vehicles’ imports and other motorised equipment between 2009 and 2013.

    This was contained in a data issued by the National Automotive Council (NAC) and presented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Abuja.

    The amount was spent on importation of vehicles, tractors, trailers and semi-trailers, civil engineering and contractors’ plant and equipment.

    A breakdown of the figure shows that the country spent $5.407billion in 2008; $4.012billion in 2009; $5.592billion in 2010; $4.082billion in 2011; $6.364billion in 2012 and $6.212billion in 2013 on the importation of these items.

    A further breakdown shows that  about 100,000 new and 300,000 used vehicles were imported into the country in 2012, excluding tractors, trailers and semi-trailers, civil engineering and contractors plant and equipment.

    Based on this huge spending on vehicles importation, the Federal Government under former President Goodluck Jonathan introduced the National Automotive Policy to encourage local production of vehicles.

    It also imposed 35  per cent duty and 35 per cent levy on imported new and used vehicles to discourage importation. The policy has, however, failed due to a huge gap in market demand and local production, thereby promoting smuggling of vehicles into the country.

    Recently, expectation was high as port users were expecting the take-off of the remaining 35  per cent levy at the gateways but no news was heard on the auto policy.

    Investigation, however, showed that key maritime stakeholders were lobbying President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison the policy due to the rise in vehicles smuggling at the country’s borders. The move may have put a snag on the efforts by the NAC and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to see that Nigeria becomes a local automobile manufacturing nation in future.

    Meanwhile, market indices have shown that the market for fairly used vehicles, also known as Tokunbo, is gradually diminishing with the gradual implementation of the National Automobile Policy. The Federal Government auto policy had few years ago increased tariff on the imported motor products by 100 per cent.

    Although, fairly used cars are still on display at various auto shops across the country, there are indications that that importation of the auto products has drastically reduced, especially since the beginning of the year.

    Records from the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria show that vehicles importation through the Lagos ports reduced by more than 150 per cent in January this year, compared to the same period of last year.

    For instance, only about 8,000 vehicle (cars) were discharged at the Lagos Ports last January, against 27,000 units that were discharged at the same ports last year.

    The volume of trucks that were imported through the gateways within the same period under review also indicated a sharp reduction as only 1,700 units came into the country through the ports in January this year, a drop of 1,000 units of the 2,700 units that came through the Lagos ports in January, last year.