FRSC bans Opel Ampera vehicles on Nigerian roads over risky battery issues

*The Federal Road Safety Corps has alerted Nigerians to desist from further sales or use of Opel Ampera-e vehicles with battery-related problems as they pose a safety risk to consumers

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Asserting that the affected vehicles pose a safety risk to drivers and others, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has alerted Nigerian consumers to the withdrawal of about 10,000 Ampera Motor vehicles manufactured by Frankfurt-Opel.

The Corps, which said this in a statement Sunday, April 25 indicated that the vehicles were withdrawn because of their battery-related problems.

The FRSC disclosed that the Opel Ampera-e vehicles built between 27 June, 2016, and 5 September 2019 posed a safety risk to drivers.

Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps

The statement noted Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, said: “Nigerians to desist from further sales or usage of such vehicles on Nigerian roads.”

The statement said in part that “the European Union Rapid Alert System, for dangerous non-food products on 10th March 2021, recalled Opel 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.”

The regulatory agency also noted: “Consequent upon the imminent danger this manufacturing error could cause to both the users of this vehicle and other road users, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, hereby draws the attention of dealers and users of these vehicles to desist from further sales or usage of such vehicles on Nigerian roads and contact the manufacturers for correction of the unravelled defect.

The FRSC added: “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.”