Ford recalls 98,500 Ranger trucks in US

Ford Motor Co said it is recalling 98,500 older Ranger pickup trucks in the United States because replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

The new recall covers 2004-2006 model year Ranger trucks recalled in 2017 and 2018 to replace a small number of inflators that were installed incorrectly. Those original replacement inflators were replacing Takata versions that are at risk of ruptures that could pose safety risks.

Ford said that through early February seven vehicles with incorrect inflator orientation have been identified and was re-repaired.

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the replacement front passenger air bag inflator as needed.

Ford said there were no injuries or crashes related to the new recall.

More than 30 deaths worldwide — including 24 U.S. deaths and three in older Ranger pickup trucks — are linked to Takata air bag inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks.

Clearing Agents urge Tinubu to increase age limit of tokunbo vehicles

Clearing agents operating at the nation’s seaports have called on the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to increase the age limit of imported used vehicles also known as tokunbo to 15 years from date of manufacture.

The agents, under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), in a congratulatory message to Tinubu on his electoral victory on Wednesday, said the new administration when sworn in should as well ensure the reduction of 15 per cent levy on used vehicles.

The congratulatory message by the association’s acting president, Dr Kayode Farinto, who is also the Lagos State coordinator of the Progressive Solidarity for Asiwaju (PSA), a support group of Marítime stakeholders and allied industries in the sub-sector of the Nigeria’s economy, said the group is proud of the All Progressive Congress (APC), successes at the elections and urged the President-elect to work for a better NIgeria.

He said: “on the issue of age limits on used vehicles- tokunbo vehicles- we want the government to increase the importation age limits to about 15 years from the date of manufacture and the reduction of 15 per cent levy on used vehicles and all that we have proposed to the President-elect should be address.”

The association also call on Tinubu, to appoint a serving Customs Officers as Comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He stated that the current CG, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has stagnated the growth of cargo clearance and Customs operations in the country.

Farinto called on the president-elect to beam his searchlight on the maritme Industry which is an alternative source of revenue for the government.

He stated that the sector is now the revenue basket of Nigeria aside oil, saying for his government to successfully reap the revenue accruing in the sector, Marítime professionals should be part of the think tank either as agency heads or as board members.

To him, “frankly, in line with international best practices, the new Comptroller General  of the Nigeria Customs  Service ( NCS) must as a matter of necessity be appointed  from and among the proper officers  and not this aberration that has stagnated the growth of cargo clearance and Nigeria  Customs operations in our nation.

“I want the Government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to beam it’s searchlight on the maritme Industry, which is now the revenue basket of Nigeria ,aside from oil. For his government to successfully  reap the revenue accruing in the sector, Maritme professionals should be part of the think tank in this Government, either as agency heads or as board members.”

Farinto said the Nigeria Maritme industry is ready to work with the Government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the sector to advance its course.

“We want the Federal Ministry of Transportation to be balkanize, thereby creating Federal Ministry of Maritime Affairs, where agencies like National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and others will be part of to harness the maritime industry fully and how we can fully explore the Nigeria’s Blue Economy project for increase revenue earnings for the Federal government, create employment for our teeming youths and add value to the nation’s economy.

“The hard earned victory of Bola Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima at the 2023 Presidential election is a testimony of their acceptance and trust by all Nigerians to lead our country to the Promised Land.

“We at ANLCA/ PSA are particularly grateful for this victory as we have all worked hard to achieve it. I want to assure all Marítime stakeholders that the Tinubu /Shettima Presidency will bring a new lease of life to the Maritme Industry as the president-elect have promised to carry the sector along during our engagement with him.

“I want to urge all maritme stakeholders to support the APC Government of Asiwaju  Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima so that we can all benefit as professionals and stakeholders from this government in order to move the industry forward”, he pointed out.