FRSC: Indiscriminate importation of tyres causing accidents on Nigerian roads

The Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) says indiscriminate importation of tyres is one of the major causes of car crashes in the country.

Speaking at an event by Headfort Foundation, an NGO, to sensitise park drivers in commemoration of the 2023 Human Rights Day, C.J Oseji, an official of the FRSC, highlighted the significant causes of accidents on Nigerian highways.

Oseji said one of the major causes of car crashes is over-speeding and the use of environmentally unfriendly tyres.

He argued that most drivers are not bothered about the kind of tyres they attach to their vehicles.

He advised drivers to apply caution while plying roads in a tropical environment like Nigeria.

“Tyre has type A, type B, and type C. They are produced according to the temperature of a particular region. You cannot use the kind of tyre they produce in Canada here in Nigeria. They call that place temperate region,” he said.

“But some of my brothers will import it. They will look at it and say, ‘This one get teeth’. Vulcaniser will also tap it and say it is okay. The strength they use to make these tyres is different from here.

“We also have the type B tyre in tropical areas. These ones are meant for areas like Africa and sub-Saharan regions.

“Because at the road safety commission, our analysis tells us that the highest cause of crashes is speed. And we look at speed.

“It is not just speed alone. It is tyre-burst. Tyres do not only burst when they have expired or worn out. If it is not the real tyre meant for that region, the tyre will burst.

“Even if it is a brand new tyre, if it has expired and if the tyre is not meant for this tropical region, it will burst”