Abuja -The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has decried the poor use of tyres by road haulage companies in their vehicles.
In a statement by its Director-General, Mr Aminu Jalal, on Wednesday in Abuja, the council described the practice as worrisome.
It said that the erring companies, which it did not mention, were deliberately failing to fit their trucks and trailers with the correct number of tyres.
This, it noted, does not only lead to deterioration of the nation’s roads but also causes crashes, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.
The council said: “It has come to the attention of the NADDC that transporters/haulage firms are deliberately failing to fit the correct number of tyres to their trucks and trailers.
“The practice has become very alarming and the council has the responsibility to ensure that vehicles assembled/manufactured in Nigeria and those that ply Nigeria roads meet global performance standards.
“Tyres and vehicles are designed to carry specific loads. By not fitting the correct numbers of tyres, the ones in use are all overloaded and stressed beyond their designed capacity.
“Over-worked tyres do not only destroy the road but also likely to burst.’’
It stated that the situation was compounded by the movement of such vehicles on the road without rear lights thereby posing serious threat to other road users, especially at night.
“Roads are designed and built to carry specific maximum weights. By reducing the number of tyres on vehicles the weight that each tyre exerts on the road surface is exceeded
“This leads to the deterioration of the road, making it unsafe for other road users. This is unpatriotic.
“While government, at various level, struggle to build its infrastructures including roads, these companies, some of them very notable, are busy in this destructive activities.’’
The council said it was aware that the transport officers of the erring companies were behind the practice and that the drivers had no choice for fear of losing their jobs.
“This release is an appeal for them to refrain from this stance.
“Not fitting the correct number of tyres or fitting tyres with a tread depth of less than the minimum 3mm, renders the vehicle unroadworthy.
“We fully support the Federal Road Safety Corps to confiscate vehicles with missing tyres or rear lighting for the safety of other road users.
“Such vehicles should remain off the roads until they have a full complement of proper tyres,’’ the council said.(NAN)