State-of-the-art Alignment Centre Launched in Ibadan
From Omobola Odeyemi, Ibadan
Mr. Anil Sahgal and Alhaji Afeez Olugbemi
Nigerian authorities have been called upon to ensure that only tyres that meet high standards of strength and durability are allowed into the country in order to avoid waste of money and loss of lives through avoidable accidents.
A Indian tyre expert, Mr. Anil Sahgal gave the advice in Ibadan over the weekend at the opening of a state-of-the-art tyre sales and service facility, said to be the first of its kind in Oyo State.
Sahgal who is Managing Director of Asahi Brands Limited, distributor of Bridgestone and Firestone tyres in Nigeria, said :”Standard needs to be set against substandard tyres so that low standard tyres won’t come to Nigeria and the country will not become a dumping ground.
“Substandard tyres mean loss of lives, a waste of money for consumers and for the government. We did not want to put people lives in danger. ‘Tokunbo’ tyres are another matter of concern.
“There are so many black color tyres coming into Nigeria today. There are several parameters to look at to judge the durability of a tyre. The customer cannot check these parameters by mere looking at the tyre. It is up to the authorities to do so,” Sahgal said.
The service center, Afeezco Global Ventures, located in the Oke Bola area of Ibadan, Oyo State, will, apart from sales, allow customers enjoy modern methods of changing tyres, nitrogen gas filling, wheel balancing and alignment.
The helmsman of Afeezco Global Ventures, Alhaji Afeez Olugbemi, said proper wheel alignment was essential to preserve the lifespan of tyres, hence his desire to establish a center where high quality wheel alignment can be done.
He said: “So many road accidents can be traced to bad tyres. Bad tyres are caused by poor wheel alignment. I set up this center to save lives by offering high quality wheel alignment.
He called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON to ensure due diligence are followed by importers before tyre are allowed into Nigeria.
“Quality tyres may be expensive but it is safer and more economical to buy quality tyres”, he said and advised motorists to always go for premium brands of tyre.
