FRSC to raid second hand tyre market nation wide
From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
WORRIED by the rampant bursting of tyres on highways, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has concluded plans to raid second hand tyre markets nation-wide.
A case in point is the ghastly motor accident in Kwara State, where four passengers died yesterday after their vehicle skidded off the road and somersaulted following a burst tyre.
The plan to raid the tyre market was announced yesterday in Abuja during a sensitization rally for drivers by the head of FRSC's public education department, Mr. Yakubu Attah.
The raid was to enable the commission maintain standard, he said, adding that soon FRSC personnel would be posted to the borders to check the influx of bad tyres, also called Tokunbo into the country.
According to him, the commission will follow up with stakeholders' meeting, comprising tyre dealers and Customs officials after which sales outlets would be raided.
He advised motorists to desist from using worn-out tyres because of the inherent safety hazards associated with them.
According to him, 137 of the road accidents recorded between January and June this year were due to burst tyres.
Also speaking at the rally, the Assistant General Manager of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET), Abuja, Mr. Dominic Eyoh advised motorists to always obey the prevailing weather condition because the prevailing weather condition could influence visibility and the movement of tyres.
Eyoh explained that when the road is wet, it becomes slippery, thereby reducing the friction between the tyres and road surface.
He listed hailstones, winds, thunder, flooding during or after rains as causes of road accidents.
The Kwara accident, which occurred at kilometre 41 on the Ilorin / Jebba road, involved an 18-seater Mercedez Benz bus, which was heading to Lagos from Share, the headquarters of the Ifelodun Local Council.
The survivors of the accident are receiving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).`
