The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) on Wednesday impounded more than 10,000 used and substandard tyres in Kaduna, Kaduna State, after the agency raided shops in New Panteka Market and along Katsina Road in the metropolis.
The surprise raid also led to the sealing of nine shops, as the SON, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Federal Road Safety Corps swooped on traders believed to be selling the goods.
Alhaji Adamu Abba, SON Acting Zonal Coordinator, said the raid was meant to rid the market of products injurious to the health and well-being of Nigerians.
He said the organisation had warned the dealers several times to stop the sale of used and substandard tyres, all to no avail.
“This type of business is dangerous to Nigerians and must be checked; you can all bear witness of the number of people who died because of used and substandard tyres.
“All those used and substandard tyres were smuggled into the country, they didn’t come through normal process,” he said.
The SON boss also explained that “violators will be prosecuted and the used, substandard tyres will be destroyed.”
On his part, Idris Jafar, chairman of New Panteka Market Tyre Dealers Association, pledged to cooperate with SON to rid the market of substandard products.
