Senate has urged the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to partner with the Nigerian Customs, so as to intensify efforts on checks on borders and ports where substandard tyres are brought to Nigeria.

The Upper Chamber equally tasked the Nigerian Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to conduct quick checks on all tyres in use in Nigeria, during the plenary session presided by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, today.

This resolution came on the backdrop of a motion raised by Shehu Sanni, Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, on the 'use of substandard or used tyres on Nigerian Roads’, where he noted that that the incessant road accidents, due to ‘Tokunbo’ tyres, is worrisome including the huge number of lives lost on the roads.

Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na'Allah, lamenting on the menace of used tyres and the inherent harms, added that it was a motion coming at the right time.

He said “There is no scientific solution to any tyre that can become safe in Nigeria based on the roads we have. No matter how genuine they are, our attitude as a nation is reckless. We have to come out to see how we can ensure acceptable standards of our roads.”

Senator Jibrin Barau, in his contribution, said “people are dying everyday because of reckless types on our roads. We must have a mechanism of checking state of these types before Nigerians start using them. We must liaise with the agencies that get these tyres to tidy up things very well.”

He added that Nigerians patronise ‘Tokunbo’ tyres because they are cheap and tasked regulatory agencies on quality assurance.

Senator Ben Murray Bruce, in his comment, said that “the use of used tyres is an economic issue. Poor Nigerians can’t afford brand new tyres. It’s not a matter of choice, but a matter of the money available.” He added that the economic incentives need to be in place.

Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District, elucidated on the dangers of these tyres across the country, saying there should be an empowerment of local production of tyres in the country, and we have to double our efforts in this.

Melaye said “every tyre has a lifespan but because of poor sensitisation, many people do not know when their tyres are worn out. We need to educate users on tyres as many of them don't even know that different tyres are meant for back and front.”

He however added that the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in conjunction with the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) need to conduct sensitisation programme to make road users understand the complexities.

•Photo shows the Senate in session.