ROAD & TRANSPORT

 SON begins implementation of standard for Tokunbo vehicles
 By Favour Nnabugwu & Damilola Faniyi

Disturbed by the increasing rate of accidents on Nigerian roads and to also grow the country's automotive industry, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON has commenced the implementation of conformity to standard of second-hand vehicles popularly known as 'tokunbo' across the country.


SON's Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the implementation has become imperative in view of the surge in complaints from the general public over the condition of the second-hand vehicles being imported into the country.

According to him, "SON would not concern itself with the age of the vehicles but the condition of the engine, emission, the mechanical function, among others.

He said the pitiable and rickety conditions of such vehicles were worrisome adding that it was contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer through the emission of carbon monoxide.
In order to checkmate this ugly development and stop the country from being used as a dumping ground for all manner of used vehicles by some unscrupulous businessmen, SON will soon fix a date to meet with the major stakeholders' to take up the challenge.

According to him "It will no longer be business as usual for second-hand vehicle importers as relevant measures aimed at streamlining used vehicle importation will be put in place in the overall interest of the country as well as its eco system" .

Odumodu said the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment made it a key component of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution plan which is a five year programme that will diversify Nigeria's economy and contribution to GDP from 4 percent today to 6percent by 2015 and finally above 10percent by 2017.

"The major aim of the automotive policy requires that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) begins to thoroughly monitor the importation of new vehicles into the country and create a regime which would ensure that they conform to applicable Nigerian standard".

However, he revealed that the agency has approved three companies that met the criteria of having certification to ISO/IRC 17020: 1998 which are ; Quality Assurance Projects Limited, Medtech Scientific Limited and Coctena Destination Inspection Limited to implement the programme.

"It is a step further towards actualising the Nigeria we desire. Competent testing labs will be set up in Nigeria and this testing is not likely to be more than N20,000, the SON DG said"