ADDRESS BY THE SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR ENGINEER

BABACHIR

DAVID

LAWAL

(FNSE)

SECRETARY

TO

THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION (SGF) ON THE OCCASION

OF STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ON USE OF TYRES ORGANISED BY
THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS (FRSC) ON MONDAY 9 MAY
2016
PROTOCOL
It is a great honour for me to be here on this auspicious occasion of
the stakeholders forum on the use of tyres organised by the Federal
Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The initiative, no doubt, aligns fully with
the mandate of the FRSC in its efforts to finding solutions to the
causes of road traffic crashes.
2. Studies have shown that there are over 250 brands of tyres
currently being used in Nigeria, with many of them being substandard.
This massive proliferation of substandard tyres in the country has led
to incessant cases of tyre-related crashes that continue to claim
precious lives. Incidentally, there are no tyre manufacturing companies
currently operating in the country, since Dunlop and Micheline which
once existed in the country relocated. The absence of tyre
manufacturing companies has no doubt made it difficult for availability
of quality tyres in the Nigerian market.
3. I have been informed that over 20 percent of vehicles operating on
Nigerian roads and about 40 percent of commercial vehicles have
mixed tyre brands, while over 50 percent of the tyres checked have
problems of either under or over inflation which put the lives of
occupants of the vehicles at great risk. The level of awareness on
quality of tyres; life span and maintenance remain very low among the

people. Furthermore, the competence of local Vulcanisers and the

functionality of the tools they use in fixing the tyres and accuracy of
measuring tyre pressure pound per square inch (psi) are doubtful, while
some of them find it difficult to differentiate the metric systems.
4. Consequently, the nation has continued to witness increased cases of
tyre-related crashes. Government has noted the consistent efforts of
the FRSC in mobilising members of the public on issues of road safety
through consultative forums and collaborative initiatives with relevant
stakeholders. These initiatives must be supported by all.
5. As a responsible government, this administration would not tolerate
reckless destruction of lives and property of the citizens on the roads
through crashes caused by use of tyres that are fake, expired or non
conducive for use on our roads. Government is therefore in full support
of this stakeholders forum on tyres to enable stakeholders deliberate
on the challenges and come up with recommendations on appropriate
solutions. In the same vein, FRSC will continue to enjoy the support of
government through development of the capacity of its staff and
provision of infrastructure.
6. This forum provides the necessary platform for stakeholders to
deliberate on the solutions to the frightening cases of tyre-related
road crashes being witnessed in the country. It is therefore, expected
that participants would come up with useful suggestions that could
address the menace.
7. The present administration of President Muhammadu Buahri, GCFR is
committed to creating transparency in business environment and
putting in place appropriate policies that could serve as incentives for
investors to invest in the country. It is my hope, therefore, that all the

tyre manufacturing companies which relocated from the country some

years back, would seize this opportunity to reinvest in Nigeria again. I
assure all Nigerians that the Federal Government will remain
committed to the protection of lives and property of all citizens,
wherever they live.
8. To this end, government will continue to render the necessary
support for the FRSC to ensure its operational success for safe road
environment in the country, in line with the United Nations Decade of
Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020.
9. I therefore call on all relevant Government institutions including the
Nigerian Customs Service and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria
to join forces with the FRSC by deploying the instrumentalities of
their respective legal frameworks to curtail the inflow of fake and
substandard tyres into the country. In the same vein, I encourage road
transport operators and the Nigerian motoring public in general to take
personal responsibility for the safety of commuters by desisting from
patronizing fake and substandard tyres.
10. On this note, it is my honour to declare the stakeholders forum on
tyres open. I wish you all fruitful deliberations.
11. Thank you and God bless