The Federal Government has commenced strict enforcement of calibration on installed load weighbridges across the country.
This formed part of the letter issued by the Ministry of Transportation.
Our Correspondent gathered that the move is to facilitate enforcement of the axle load limits necessary to prevent damage of Nigerian roads caused by overloading.
Recall that President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the instrument of accession of supplementary Act relating to harmonisation of Standards and procedures for the control of dimensions, weights and axle load of heavy-duty goods transport vehicles.
In that capacity, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has been directed by government to ensure that weighbridges at the ports and loading bays are fully calibrated.
According to the statement, the document provides guidelines and penalties for enforcement of the new regime of axle load limits in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, said during the official ceremony and commencement of the caliberatiion exercise of the APM terminal weighbridges in Apapa ports, that the agency would carry out the directive in line with international best practice.
Salim who was represented by Director of NMI, Engineer Bede Obayi emphasised that the task given to the agency is to calibrate weighbridges for measurement of all cargoes.
“The caliberatiion will be effected on weighbridges to ascertain the axile load for Heavy Duty Vehicles and Food Transporting Vehicle that transport both wet and dry products across the country”, he said.
He reteriates that government aims at preserving the roads from constant damage by overweight trucks, as well as given Nigerians the right quality products.
Performing the calibration of weighbridges, Salim said, “the calibration, which would be extended to other seaports and oil deports/terminals in the country, would help the government to get accurate weights of cargoes, also to check influx of substandard goods and services”.
The Director-General noted, “calibration exercise is a country-wide project given to the National Metrology Institute (NIMA), of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, as the custodians of primary measurement standards of highest accuracy in Nigeria.
“Metrology is the science of measurements and can be used to check influx of substandard goods and services in Nigeria.
“The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approvals on roads construction and management give credence to our calibration services, to ensure that our roads are preserved and maintained for long-term uses.
“An example of the implementation process is being carried other in African countries to support the AFCTA. SON is to ensure that these weighbridges give accurate measurements to the users.”
Salim stressed, “giving the assignment to SON shows that government appreciates the roles of metrology and calibration to economy development.
“We are happy that this assignment is given to us. This shows that government appreciates our measuring roles. We want to assure all port stakeholders of accurate measurements and enjoin them to always declare accurately necessary information about their imports and exports”.
The SON boss noted, “the exercise would help government to collect correct revenues.
SON management has sensitised all stakeholders on the benefits of weighbridge calibration and accurate declaration of cargo weights and would continue to enlighten them”.
Source: financialbusiness
