Following reports of increase in importation of radioactive vehicles from Japan into Africa, stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime and auto market industry have called on the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Environmental Agency [NESREA] to monitor the importation of vehicles into the country.
Apart from imported Japanese brand of vehicles, they also harped on the need for the inspection of any vehicle that finds its way into the country especially through the nation’s seaports.
Following reports of increase in importation of radioactive vehicles from Japan into Africa, stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime and auto market industry have called on the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Environmental Agency [NESREA] to monitor the importation of vehicles into the country.
Apart from imported Japanese brand of vehicles, they also harped on the need for the inspection of any vehicle that finds its way into the country especially through the nation’s seaports.
Reacting to the issue of radioactive vehicles into Nigeria, frontline clearing agent and Managing Director of Eyis Resources Limited, Mr. Lucky Amiwero advised that there is need for government to take critical actions on vehicles imported into the country.
According to him, the measures to be taken by the government must be based on professionalism rather than political, he added that the government must consider the health hazard of such vehicles on humans.
He said that in order for such vehicles not to hinder trade in the country there must be a regular quarantine service at the port to ensure their clearance.
The frontline practitioner told Shipping Position Daily that the environmental protection agency should look into the situation as it is injurious to Nigerians.
‘’There is need for the government to take some measures on some of the cars that are coming from Japan, they need to look at it critically and see if they can do some inspection on it through the environmental protection agency, it is not to start confusion in the port but they should carry out some tests to know if all the cars are radioactive”
“You cannot say that they are radioactive when you have not tested them but we know that after the tsunami there is a possibility of those cars being exposed to radioactive noxious and those noxious are injurious to humans.’’
‘’ One of the essence of having an agency like NESREA is to look at issues of this nature and the right instrument or apparatus must be put in place to enable them inspect the cars after which they isolate them by quarantine before they can be removed from circulation ‘’Amiwero noted.
‘’NESREA should be able to address the issue as long as they have the right equipment and laboratory to detect a radioactive vehicle from overseas.’’
In a similar reaction, Director of Sunrise Motor Dealers Association, Pastor Andrew Uzor said that the menace of radioactive vehicles can even discourage most Nigerian importers from importing vehicles into the country.
Uzor charged the relevant agencies of the government to work as a team in order to address the issues of radioactive vehicles imported into the country before it deteriorate.
He also added that radioactive product is dangerous to human life adding that no one can detect where such harmful radiation can come from in the vehicle.
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