SON AWARDS QUALITY CERTIFICATE TO TVS MOTORCYCLES

One of the popular motorcycle brands in Nigeria, TVS, has been given the Standards Organisation of Nigeria's (SON) Mandatory Conformity Assessment Certification Programme Certificate (MANCAP).

The certification followed a detailed assessment of the factory where Coscharis Group, the sole distributor of the brand in the country, makes the bikes.

In a letter, signed by the Director-General SON, Dr. John Ndanusa Akanya, the agency said the certificate was issued after the company passed the Nigerian Industrial Standard on Safety and Performance Requirements for Motorcycles and other relevant standards.

The letter stated: 'Reference is made to your application for the assessment of your company's product against the requirements of Nigerian Industrial Standard on safety and performance requirements for motorcycles and other relevant standards.

'Considering the inspection carried out at your factory by a team of SON officers, and the outcome of laboratory analysis carried out on samples of your product, I have the pleasure to inform you that the under listed products of your company is hereby adjudged by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria to conform to the requirements of Nigerian Industrial Standard on safety and performance requirements for motorcycles and other relevant standards.'

'The mandatory Conformity Assessment Certificate Number 000858 and MANCAP NIS Logo Number ME-2546 are herein being forwarded to you.

This certificate is valid for a period of three years from date of issue in the first instance.

The certificate authorises you to use the MANCAP NIS Logo and number on the TVS Motorcycle'

Besides, the letter however, warned that the products certification could be withdrawn in case of any anomalies or irregularities.

Specifically, it said the product would be periodically put under surveillance to monitor conformance with the standard, adding that SON reserves the right to withdraw the certificate and logo for nonconformity.

Responding, the Group Financial Controller, Coscharis, Godwin Umeaka said, the certification was coming at the right time, since the Group just got the sole distributorship of the TVS brand of motorcycle in Nigeria.

Besides, he said the award is a proof of the company's policy of conforming with standards in all its dealing.

He promised that the company would not relent in its efforts to deal in safe and authorized products.

'It is clear that we have a product that is reliable and safe. It is also interesting to note that our company just got the sole right to distribute this product in Nigeria, while we are also at the brick of concluding talks with our principal, TVS of India on getting the sole right for Africa, Umeaka said.

In the same vein, the Divisional Head, General Goods, Oliver Chidi Unachukwu said, the TVS is an environment friendly motorcycle, thus the SON's decision to award it its certification.

He added that the precuts comes in a four stoke engine against the general practice of two stroke engine, which is at the brick of being phased out in the country.

Explaining further, he said the brand is presently available in four models namely, Apache 160cc, Star 100cc, Maxioor 100cc and Moped HD 70cc, adding that a new variant, the Neo 110cc would be introduced later in the year.