SON confiscates, destroys 7 containers of compromised tyres, cylinders worth over N400m

By Jerry Aguigbo

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has confiscated and destroyed seven( 7) containers of tyres which were said to be compromised. Also destroyed were substandard gas cylinders worth over four hundred (N400million) Naira .

Speaking to Journalists at SON’s warehouse at Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, today, Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim,said the tyres came in 2 40ft containers and were already compromised because they were stuffed into one another to avoid the payment of accurate duty to the federal Government by compressing the entire consignment into 2 40ft containers , thereby compromising the entire consignment, rendering them unusable.

According to Salim, the importers of this tyres know the standard the tyres are expected when they are brought into Nigeria but they went ahead to stuff them into 2 containers instead of 6 or 7, so, unfortunately, it is penny wise, pound foolish, it is a colossal loss to the importers and the Nigerian economy” he said.

Continuing, he explained that  this tyres cause road accidents, because there is no way you would stuff tyres to remain the same way it was made, human lives he said,  are involved here and it is a double edged sword, if you allow this to enter the market then people will eventually get into accidents, they may die or are maimed, that is why you must stick to our standards always, ” he emphasized.

Also destroyed were substandard gas cylinders of different shapes and sizes, estimated to be worth over N400m meant for the Nigerian market. These cylinders were perforated and destroyed by SON operatives at the site.

Answering questions on how why standards Organization is finding its  bearing operating outside the ports, the DG said, that “85% of goods coming into Nigeria comes through Lagos ports and this is where the work is, then, if you ask us to work from outside the ports, then, you risking the lives of our personnel”

On the commencement of the African trade agreement, AfCFTA, Salim says, ” we are ready,  we have our standards, which is Africa’s standards and that is international standards. “