FG to ban importation of substandard vehicles, parts

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) is set to combat the sale of substandard vehicles and parts across the country, The Director-General, NADDC, Mr Aminu Jalal, said.

Jalal said the Council, in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has adopted over 130 international automotive standards for safety.

Speaking at a training workshop in Kano, the DG disclosed that the agency has established automotive test laboratories for emission, components and materials in Lagos, Enugu and Zaria, which will be inaugurated by December.

He said: "At our request, SON plans to start implementing the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme on imported vehicles by requiring that all used vehicles imported into Nigeria have roadworthiness certificates from their country of origin.

"Vehicle assembly plants and local content manufacturers are being encouraged and assisted to produce good quality items and obtain the ISO 9001: 2008 QMS certification.

"A training programme on the ISO/TS 16949: 2009, which is a requirement for the implementation of the ISO 9001: 2008 QMS for 20 workers of assembly plants in Nigeria will commence this year."

Jalal, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Dalhat, NADDC's Technical Adviser, stated that vehicles and auto parts, whether classified as safety items or non-safety items, must conform to international standards, noting that their sudden failure in service might result in fatal crashes.

He said the agency has commenced a training programme that will ensure that vehicles and auto spare parts offered for sale in Nigeria meet international quality and safety standards.

According to him, this training will expose participants to techniques and skills required to differentiate between genuine and substandard motor spare parts with a view to halting or minimising their sale.

He said the move is to reduce road accidents and save the lives of motorists and other road users.