By Cyber Era Correspondent

As part of its statutory responsibility of enlightening the public on safe road use and in furthering the realisation of the United Nations resolution on Safe System approach, with particular emphasis on Safe Vehicles, the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC)  is informing the general public that the manufacturers of Ampera-E-EVs vehicles, Frankfurt-Opel,  have recalled an estimated 10,000 of the Ampera-e vehicles built between June 27, 2016 and September 5, 2019 due to battery problems found to pose a safety risk to drivers.

According to the Corps Public Education Officer, ACM Bisi Kazeem, this information is conveyed in compliance with the directive issued by the Nigerian  Federal Government, mandating FRSC and other key agencies to activate as a matter of urgency, speedy processes for robust public sensitisation on the inherent danger that could arise from continued use of the vehicles.

The directive reads in part : “ I wish to draw your attention to a report which indicated that the European Union Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), for dangerous non-food products on 10th March, 2021, recalled Opel’s Ampera E motor vehicles manufactured between 27 June, 2016 and 5 September, 2019, due to the high voltage of battery which may fail at full charging capacity and thereby, increase risk of fire incidence”.

“Considering the prevalence of Opel motor vehicles in Nigeria, it is advisable that you draw the attention of the motoring public and dealers to this development”.

Consequent upon the imminent danger this manufacturing error could cause to both the users of these vehicles and other road users, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, has drawn the attention of dealers and users of these vehicles to desist from further sale or usage of such vehicles on Nigerian roads and contact the manufacturers for correction of the unravelled defect.

According to AM Kazeem, to ascertain strict compliance by those affected, Commanding Officers have been directed to ensure that patrol operatives stop such vehicles from continuing their trip anywhere they are sighted on the nation’s highways. This is to ensure that the impending danger the continued use of the vehicle could cause is swiftly avoided to make room for safe travels.

The Corps advises the motoring public to report any of such vehicles through its toll free emergency lines 122 whenever such vehicles are sighted or report through the National Traffic Radio 107.FM on 08052998090, 09067000015.