I can't help but notice the high number of cars breaking down on Abuja roads lately. Never a day goes by without me seeing a broken down vehicle that's parked by the side of the road or even in the middle of the road with the owner looking help-less.

My question is who is to be blamed, Abuja mechanics or the car owners?

P.S. It wouldn't be bad to actually stop just to lend a helping hand if you could to someone in this kind of situation.

It depicts lack of maintenance culture among car owners. If you sit at a location to observe cars that pass by, you would notice that about 60% or more of the cars require attention. People have this attitude of "if it is not broken don't fix it". Most times you would notice that for a particular part of a car to brake down, it would have shown signs of weakness but owners will ignore it & then look helpless when it stops. It surprises me why people buy cars they cannot maintain.

Again, if there's an accepted standard of operation for vehicles in Nigeria imposed by legislation, such as Emission tests, MOT etc. these incidents of Constance vehicle break down will be reduce. In Nigeria, any thing that has four tyres goes on the road unchallenged by law enforcement agencies.

Have you also notice that most cars on the Nigerian roads have one form of dent or the other yet such vehicles are put on the road. You could travel round the United Kingdom without seeing a vehicle with dent or one broken down.

bravolad: It depicts lack of maintenance culture among car owners. If you sit at a location to observe cars that pass by, you would notice that about 60% or more of the cars require attention. People have this attitude of "if it is not broken don't fix it". Most times you would notice that for a particular part of a car to brake down, it would have shown signs of weakness but owners will ignore it & then look helpless when it stops. It surprises me why people buy cars they cannot maintain.

Again, if there's an accepted standard of operation for vehicles in Nigeria imposed by legislation, such as Emission tests, MOT etc. these incidents of Constance vehicle break down will be reduce. In Nigeria, any thing that has four tyres goes on the road unchallenged by law enforcement agencies.

Have you also notice that most cars on the Nigerian roads have one form of dent or the other yet such vehicles are put on the road. You could travel round the United Kingdom without seeing a vehicle with dent or one broken down.

Well on point. Most aabuja car owners find it difficult to maintain their cars. Can't really explain the reason but it seem like they Don't cut their coats according to their sizes or just sheer paranoia of being ripped off by quacks.

Sometime ago, I had a customer drive into the workshop in a 2008 Infinity sports car wearing a N200k suit with hat and swagger stick to match. He could easily have passed for a Niger delta prince whose dad owns an oil well but wouldn't pay N5k for a simple scan on his car to ascertain why the car is giving him problems as the check engine light was on. His claim was that 5k was too much for a scan. He eventually carried his wahala away. Just one of too many but God help us.


Car-Doctor.

car-doctor:


Well on point. Most aabuja car owners find it difficult to maintain their cars. Can't really explain the reason but it seem like they Don't cut their coats according to their sizes or just sheer paranoia of being ripped off by quacks.

Sometime ago, I had a customer drive into the workshop in a 2008 Infinity sports car wearing a N200k suit with hat and swagger stick to match. He could easily have passed for a Niger delta prince whose dad owns an oil well but wouldn't pay N5k for a simple scan on his car to ascertain why the car is giving him problems as the check engine light was on. His claim was that 5k was too much for a scan. He eventually carried his wahala away. Just one of too many but God help us.


Car-Doctor.

Lol! @ "carried his wahala away".

I have also observed that about 75% of cars, if not more, have their Check engine light lite permanently, irrespective of how clean the cars are. Yet, in this section, you read members claiming that they have used their cars for years with no issue at all. That all they do is change oil and filters. Is it because those cars have not stopped moving means they have no issues ? As as a car starts and moves, it has no issue?

Even some that there check engine lights are off, probably, were disconnected by our mechanics and auto electricians, so that they remain off permanently.

If they start MOT in Abuja, Abuja roads will turn to desert.

Ikenna.

Ikenna351:

Lol! @ "carried his wahala away".

I have also observed that about 75% of cars, if not more, have their Check engine light lite permanently, irrespective of how clean the cars are. Yet, in this section, you read members claiming that they have used their cars for years with no issue at all. That all they do is change oil and filters. Is it because those cars have not stopped moving means they have no issues ? As as a car starts and moves, it has no issue?

Even some that there check engine lights are off, probably, were disconnected by our mechanics and auto electricians, so that they remain off permanently.

If they start MOT in Abuja, Abuja roads will turn to desert.

Ikenna.

MOT Naija style or MOT - Obodo oyibo style? Remember that there is a certificate of roadworthiness issued to cars in Naija, without the car being actually seen. That was how the so-called MOT procedure eventually ended in Lagos. When it was in force in the early 00's, Lagos roads were still as full as they ever were...

compulsory MOT would be a good idea, I wonder why VIO, FRSC are not calling for this- instead they are interested in charging obscene amount for registration- how does car registration improve safety of the road

Last year in Abuja, I notice some many cars moving almost'sideways'