Anambra traders have decried the use of Onitsha, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Oyo and other major Nigerian commercial cities as dumping grounds for substandard tires imported into the country.
Chief Igwe John Ezeoma, Chief of Staff to National President of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Hon. Kinsley Chikezie, said the illicit business is being done by dubious foreign nationals with connivance of Nigerians
He gave the hint on Saturday in Onitsha, Anambra State, while reacting to the spate of substandard tires in the country and their effects on lives and property.
“These substandard tires that you called “Tokumbo” are stuffed in bigger tyres and imported into Nigeria from China, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and Thailand by dubious foreign nationals and dumped in Lagos, Onitsha, Ibadan, Oyo, Kano and Edo warehouses,” Ezeoma said.
According to him, about 95 per cent of such importers are foreigners.
He said that IMAN Special Taskforce in collaboration with the police raided two of their warehouses, (Kamange) in Lagos and Edo.
He added that over 4,500 substandard tires owned by a Chinese national, were dumped and they have been sealed by Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“We will soon raid the Onitsha Kamange warehouse located along Borromeo Onitsha/Enugu Old Road and others because these substandard tires contribute mostly to the accidents on our roads,” Ezeoma said.
Ezeoma exonerated the association from accusation of bribery from dubious foreign nationals on the issue of substandard tyres.
“It is greedy people like these foreign nationals that damage Nigerian economy. If it were in their own country that they commit this kind of thing, it is death sentence.
“What they do is get these substandard tyres, rebrand them to look new and genuine and they are stuffed in big tires and imported into Nigeria.
“These tires are the causes of the accidents recorded on daily basis in Anambra. Look at the accidents that happened in Awka and Nkpor recently because of substandard tyres .
“These foreign nationals make a lot of money from Nigerians by importing expired and substandard tyres into Nigeria. They think they are smart but now that we are going after them, some have gone underground but that will not deter us because they have their agents.”
“Our members who aid them will not be spared because lives are being wasted when they are interested in making money,” he said.