Nigeria is losing over N150 billion annually to fake and low-grade automobile batteries imported into the country from various parts of the world, Samuel Oloyede Oriowo, president of the Automobiles And Road Safety Initiative, has said.
He said there is an undue influx of various low-grade classifications of automobile batteries into the country.
Oriowo called on the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu to take positive actions by prioritising the production of automobile parts locally.
He said that producing auto spare parts locally would save the country the much-needed forex and stop boosting foreign economies at the expense of Nigeria’s economy.
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He also called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), saddled with the responsibilities of certifying goods being imported into the country; especially automobile spare parts, lubricants and allied products, to double up in their efforts at preventing low-grade automobile batteries into the country.
Oriowo said that low-quality batteries could be harmful to motorists and their passengers’ health apart from being economic drainpipes as the battery’s life spans are below 12 months instead of the widely recommended 48 months or more.
According to him, the Board of Trustees of the Automobiles And Road Safety Initiative, a non-governmental organisation established in 2013 with the consent of the Federal Road Safety Commission, has decided not to extend its upcoming award recognition to the makers and dealers of automobile batteries in Nigeria.
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“The organisers of the most authoritative Nigeria Annual Automotive Industry Awards and the Board of Trustees of the Automobiles And Road Safety Initiative, have disclosed that no single automobile battery brand, maker or dealership category will be recognised during the second edition of its forthcoming award ceremony slated for Monday 27th November 2023,” he said.
Oriowo disclosed that the forthcoming Nigeria Annual Automotive Industry Award will keep encouraging excellence and celebrating the best of the stakeholders, their products and services in the country.
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He disclosed that Nigerian automotive enthusiasts should critically examine stakeholders, brands and services in the Nigerian automobile sector that are not pencilled down for recognition during the award ceremony.
He added that the NGO’s technical and selection committee has been keen and thorough in examining worthy stakeholders, their products and services for the 2023 Awards.
