By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian government has commenced strict enforcement of calibration of installed load weighbridges across the country.
The Ministry of Transportation explained that the move was to facilitate the enforcement of the axle load limits necessary to prevent damage of Nigerian roads caused by overloading.
President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have signed the instrument of accession of the supplementary Act relating to the harmonization of standards and procedures for the control of dimensions, weights and axle load of heavy-duty goods transport vehicles.
As a result, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has been directed by the government to ensure that the weighbridges at the ports and loading bays are fully calibrated.
The document provides guidelines and penalties for enforcement of the new regime of axle load limits in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Director General, 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 practices.
Salim, who was representated by Director of NMI, Bede Obayi,
said that the task given to the agency was to calibrate weighbridges for measurement of all cargoes.
“The caliberatiion will be effected on weighbridges for ascertain the axile load for Heavy Duty Vehicles and Food Transporting Vehicle that transport both wet and dry products across the country,” he said.
